Roberto Mancini shares his thoughts on the Manchester City 115 charges decision
Roberto Mancini has shared his thoughts after news broke that Manchester City has reportedly been found guilty on almost all counts in a major case.
On Friday, journalist David Ornstein revealed that City was found guilty on 114 out of 115 charges in their financial trial with the Premier League. This case started back in February 2023 when City were accused of breaking financial rules over a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018. An independent commission looked into the case, with a three-month hearing held between September and December 2024.
After a long wait for a decision, Ornstein said City was found guilty of nearly all charges. While no penalties have been announced yet, the club could face serious punishments like relegation or even expulsion from the Premier League or EFL.
City’s chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, responded with a strong statement saying, “our confidence and intent in proving the club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began.” Manager Enzo Maresca hasn’t commented yet due to the international break. However, on Sunday, former City boss Roberto Mancini was asked about the verdict.
Mancini, who brought City their first trophy in 35 years and their first league title in 44 years during his four stints in charge, was linked to having two contracts during his time at City—one paying him £1.75 million yearly for a few days’ consultancy for another club owned by Sheikh Mansour. Now managing Italy’s national team, Mancini stood by City but said the contract issue wasn’t his concern.
“I don’t think Manchester City were found guilty, quite the opposite,” Mancini said at a press conference, according to Calcio Mercato. “It’s not a problem that concerns me, and it isn’t anything new. Manchester City are not guilty, and on the double contract it isn’t my problem, theirs if anything.”
A few days after the news, former Stoke City manager Tony Pulis shared his feelings in a BBC column. City’s rise to dominance in English football started with an FA Cup win over Pulis’s Stoke team at Wembley in 2011, with Yaya Toure scoring the winner. Pulis says he doesn’t expect the trophy back or a medal, but he does feel “cheated.”
“We lost, but to a team that have been found guilty of breaking the Premier League’s financial rules,” Pulis wrote. “They didn’t just beat Stoke in that FA Cup final—they went on to win many titles and control English football for years. So what will the punishment be?
“Stoke fans will want City to give the trophy back, and other clubs affected might think about legal action.”
He added, “I still feel cheated. No matter what happens next, we’ll never get that day back or the chance to celebrate with the cup and medals we earned honestly. After breaking the rules, Manchester City got to enjoy that moment instead.”