City’s preparations to challenge the independent commission’s guilty verdict have provided another day of significant developments away from the pitch.
Fresh details have emerged over City’s likely appeal arguments, Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s diplomatic status has raised questions over possible future legal action and the Independent Football Regulator has responded to the verdict. There was also a fitness concern for Enzo Maresca after Nico O’Reilly returned early from England duty.
Here’s the Man City news and talking points round-up for Thursday.
City’s appeal argument begins to emerge
The Times has reported that City are preparing to argue that disputed sponsorship money came from the Abu Dhabi government rather than the club’s owners when they challenge the commission’s verdict.
City are also expected, according to the report, to dispute the commission’s use of the word “sham” when describing sponsorship arrangements and raise the length of time taken to deliver its decision.
We looked at what City’s reported appeal argument could mean, while stressing that the club’s full grounds have not yet been published.
The commission concluded that £830.69m of sponsorship income recorded by City across nine seasons consisted of sums ultimately funded by Abu Dhabi United Group, Sheikh Mansour’s investment vehicle. City reject the findings and say their appeal will allege material errors of law, principle and fact.
The club have until Friday to exercise their right of appeal.
Khaldoon immunity adds another legal question
Another significant development came from the Financial Times, which revealed that chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has held diplomatic immunity in the UK since 2020.
His status protects him from criminal prosecution in Britain and, in most circumstances, civil proceedings. Lawyers told the FT that this could complicate potential legal action following the City verdict, although the precise scope of immunity could itself become a matter for legal argument.
Crucially, there is no suggestion of personal wrongdoing by Al Mubarak and no proceedings against him have been announced.
The story comes as the Independent Football Regulator raised the possibility of separate owner and director scrutiny.
Regulator chair David Kogan stressed that no separate investigation has been announced and that the IFR will await developments in the continuing Premier League proceedings.
Pressure grows over possible punishment
There is still no sanction against City, with punishment to be considered separately from the commission’s findings.
That hasn’t stopped the debate. Premier League rivals reportedly believe a punishment resulting in only one season outside the top flight wouldn’t be sufficient, although those clubs have no power to determine City’s eventual sanction.
Another detail from the commission’s judgment revealed that City had been “adamant” they wouldn’t break Chelsea’s £140m single-season loss record in 2009/10.
The commission concluded that the financial arrangements subsequently introduced enabled City to avoid doing so. City reject those findings and intend to challenge them.
Burnham comments continue to divide opinion
Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s comments on City’s Abu Dhabi ownership have continued to generate debate.
Burnham said he would be “really concerned” if the owners left City and praised their contribution to the regeneration of Manchester. His comments have since prompted criticism, including questions over whether politicians should be discussing a live football disciplinary process.
Burnham has made clear that he isn’t seeking to intervene in the disciplinary process and believes it would be inappropriate to do so while the case remains live.
The wider argument now extends beyond City’s eventual punishment to what the verdict could mean for the people and era associated with the club’s success. The Athletic’s James Horncastle has also considered what the case could mean for Pep Guardiola’s City legacy.
O’Reilly returns to City
Away from the legal case, Nico O’Reilly has returned to City after withdrawing from the England squad.
The 21-year-old played the full 90 minutes against Spain but subsequently missed training with what Thomas Tuchel described as a “minor” issue. He also missed the victory over Czechia and has now returned to Manchester for further assessment.
The precise nature of the problem hasn’t been disclosed, leaving City waiting to discover whether O’Reilly will be available for the Premier League trip to Liverpool after the international break.
Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias could still be in action tonight for Norway and Portugal respectively, with every City player’s involvement being recorded in our international duty tracker.
After another day dominated by lawyers, commissions and regulators, 90 minutes of actual football might be quite welcome.
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