Joan Laporta stepped in front of Sky News’ Rob Harris on Tuesday to give his first public comment on the ruling that has dominated English football all week.

An independent Premier League commission found Manchester City guilty of 114 of the 115 financial breach charges filed against the club in February 2023, covering nine seasons from 2009-10 to 2017-18.

The charges break down into 54 for concealing financial information, 35 for failing to cooperate with the investigation, 14 for hidden payments to coaches and players, seven for breaches of profitability and sustainability rules, and four for UEFA financial fair play violations. The commission concluded that City used sham commercial contracts to inflate revenues and reduce costs by more than £900m.

The Premier League’s own summary said City “clearly intended to circumvent” its rules and “made concerted efforts to stop and frustrate” the investigation. The club have called the ruling “unsafe” and will appeal by Friday, 2 October.

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City chief executive Ferran Soriano gave the same Sky News reporter only “I have nothing to say, thank you” before walking off. Laporta stopped and answered.

Barcelona’s shadow

Barcelona have their own open financial file. In the Negreira case, the club is accused of paying €7-8m over 17 years to companies linked to José María Enríquez Negreira, a former vice-president of the Spanish federation’s referees committee.

Spain’s public prosecutor accuses Barcelona of sporting corruption. Laporta has consistently insisted the payments bought only legitimate technical scouting reports, and the case remains before the Spanish courts. UEFA has never formally closed its own file.

Manchester City stand convicted of hiding money to circumvent financial fair play; Barcelona are accused of paying money that reached the officials who run matches.

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The appeal deadline

Any City appeal will be heard by a fresh three-person independent panel whose ruling is final, with no further route to the Court of Arbitration for Sport once it reports. The sanction hearing sits separately, and possible penalties range from fines through points deductions to expulsion.

City must lodge their appeal by Friday, 2 October. The sanction hearing will follow the outcome of that appeal, whenever it is heard.

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