Man City chief's secret message to staff after bombshell Premier League verdict emerges

· Mirror

Manchester City have been found guilty of the Premier League charges and the eight-time champions have now hit out at the allegations ahead of a possible appeal over the coming days

Manchester City's chief executive, Ferran Soriano, has sent a video message to staff members claiming that the club will continue fighting their guilty verdict.

The Premier League confirmed on Tuesday that the club had been found guilty of all charges, with the process now moving towards an appeal. That is an avenue that City will take advantage of. Before that, CEO of the City Football Group Foriano has got in touch with club employees.

As per The Times, he sent a three minute video message to staff members and said that they will continue attempting to clear their name and suggested that the Premier League's verdict is based on a ‘single false accusation’.

Soriano's message comes in the aftermath of a strong statement from City in response to the Premier League's verdict. It read:

> "Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today.

> "The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case. The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.

> "The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe.

> "The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence. The Club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete."

Elsewhere, Premier League CEO Richard Masters has claimed that the Premier League are attempting to wrap up the proceedings as soon as possible. In a statement, he said:

> “The core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period. It details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade.

> “It also vindicates the Premier League’s decision to pursue this case against Manchester City. While the process to date has been both long and difficult, the League has remained determined that the facts be established independently.

> “It is a key responsibility of the Premier League to ensure that the Rules, approved by the clubs themselves, are upheld to protect the integrity of the competition. It is paramount that the League remains competitive and fair for all clubs and for the fans. We take that role extremely seriously.

> “This disciplinary case, and this decision, are the most significant in Premier League history. There are elements of the case that remain to be decided, including, importantly, what sanction must follow for these breaches. Now we have the Commission’s decision, we are committed to moving swiftly through the remainder of the process, to provide certainty for the League, our clubs and fans.”

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