The true test of the Manchester City resolve is about to be tested and it has now failed once

The true test of the Manchester City resolve is about to be tested and it has now failed once In February of 2023, when the Premier League announced that is was charging Manchester City with multiple breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules, City released a statement which said: “ Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with. ” “ The Club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position. ” “ As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all. ” Today, the Premier League released the independent commission’s findings found that Manchester City were guilty of nearly all of the charges levelled against them. City’s ‘irrefutable evidence’ was in fact, refuted. From here, Manchester City’s resolve is about to be tested. All indications are that City will not bow down to the Premier League’s verdict. Manchester City remain steadfast in their belief that they are innocent of all charges levelled against them. The reaction of Manchester City to today’s verdict was fierce. Manchester City’s statement and a video that City CEO Ferran Soriano sent to City staff can be viewed below. “ 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. ” Based on the Premier League’s verdict and Manchester City’s response, an even bigger storm is about to erupt. The findings that the Premier League released today on the 115 case and Manchester City’s response couldn’t be any more fierce. As relayed by the Sun , the independent commission found that Manchester City witnesses were wilfully lying and dishonest while giving evidence. That is a sizable accusation in itself on top of the Commissions’ findings. Manchester City’s response was just as withering. Neither party is backing down in this case. From here out, one outcome is certain. A bigger storm than what is playing out currently is about to erupt. Manchester City believes that they have ‘irrefutable evidence’ to back their position. They have done so from day one of the saga. Their irrefutable evidence didn’t satisfy the Premier League’s independent commission. In fact, the independent commission dismissed it entirely. They labelled it a ‘sham’ and dismissed Manchester City’s witnesses. That is as strong a rebuttal to the ‘irrefutable evidence’ as can be found. There is no other way to see it. It is there in black and white on the Premier League’s official website . Manchester City believes the Premier League Commissions ‘opinion’ contains ‘clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe’. That is just as damning an assessment. An even bigger battle is set to ensure. City will lodge an appeal and will ‘be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.’ Reading both parties statements, the gloves are well and truly now off. Final thoughts. Manchester City’s ‘irrefutable evidence’ was refuted by the Premier League Commission in emphatic fashion. From here, the gloves are off and City will appeal the findings of the Premier League. The first test of Manchester City’s ‘irrefutable evidence’ saw it dismissed and disregarded. It won’t be the last test of it. There is more to come in the battle between Manchester City and the Premier League. That is certain and neither party is going to back down. Today has made that a certainty. In fact, this saga will now get a whole lot messier now that the gloves are off. In my opinion, football is now on the precipice. Unrelated to today’s findings and the ongoing storm that will erupt from here, I feel the need to write my own thoughts. I am not an expert on football finances, I never will be. I’m a Manchester City fan with undying loyalty to my club that will endure through this entire saga, wherever, and whenever it ends. It must be said, that the legal battles that City have been involved in have become tiresome. If Manchester City lose their appeal, and cannot clear their name, they deserve to be punished, and severely. That is not up for debate. However, if City do clear their name, they will need to be compensated for the damage caused to the club’s reputation. That also isn’t up for debate. But at some point along the way, football has lost its way. Court room battles have become common place. Instead of debating the game and what happens on the pitch. Football finances and terms such as FFP, PSR and the like have become as hotly debated as what happens when two teams face off for 90 minutes. For as long as football has existed there have been big clubs, small clubs, teams with better players, clubs with more money, better facilities etc. Football has never been an even contest off the pitch. The modern day Premier League is no exception. In fact, that will never change. There is no good to come from the battle between Manchester City and the Premier League. None at all. It is a story that has become tiresome and will likely drag on for years to come. If Manchester City lose their appeal, and their ‘irrefutable evidence’ isn’t exactly that, the club deserves to have the book thrown at them. As does the Premier League if City’s ‘irrefutable evidence’ is exactly that. But this battle highlights that football is disappearing up its own backside. There are no winners here, and likely never will be.