Manchester City financial breach verdict fallout: Independent commission reveals 'disguised funding' as Soriano floats 'conspiracy theory'

Manchester City financial breach verdict fallout: Independent commission reveals 'disguised funding' as club maintains innocence

The Premier League's verdict in the Manchester City financial breach case has become the focus. It was reported that the Premier League confirmed Manchester City were guilty of all charges, with a 5 Live reaction programme hosted by Kelly Somers and featuring Dale Johnson, Kieran Maguire, John Murray and Paul Robinson. ^[2] Another column said City were found guilty of all but one of the charges. ^[4]

In a 40-page document, an independent commission set out key findings into Manchester City's breaches of the Premier League's financial rules, including disguised funding and 'dishonest' witnesses. ^[3] Columnist Jonathan Wilson said City were accused of devising around £900m of 'sham' contracts, deliberately cheating, and covering it up with a campaign of calculated misinformation; City maintain their innocence, saying the opinion contains clear material errors of law, principle and fact and is unsafe. ^[4]

After the verdict, Manchester City executive Soriano raised a 'conspiracy theory'. ^[1]

Other football news: after England's Nations League match, media published England player ratings. ^[5] In a controversial FA Cup replay, a village team won, with the replay stemming from an FA ruling that the initial match referee made an error. ^[6]