Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has made a joke about the charges against Manchester City
Jose Mourinho, manager of Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho, manager of Real Madrid, has spoke about the charges against Man City(Image: Francisco Macia/Getty Images)
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Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has joked about Manchester City being found guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial rules, with the former Manchester United manager stating that he would be lucky to be alive when the final outcome of the case is reached.
It was confirmed by the Premier League last week that City had been found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges brought against the club for financial breaches.
City continue to deny any wrongdoing and maintain their innocence in the appeal they submitted last Friday, claiming that they have "a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence" that should clear their name.
The appeal is anticipated to run until later this year, with another three-person independent panel overseeing proceedings before delivering a final verdict - which is expected by mid-January.
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It remains unclear what sanctions could be imposed on City should the original ruling survive the appeal, with potential consequences ranging from points deductions and financial penalties, to titles being stripped or expulsion from the Premier League.
Mourinho has become the latest manager to weigh in on the charges facing City, joking that a considerable amount of time will pass before any resolution is reached.
"I prefer to laugh a little, because I think we'll have an ending," Mourinho said in an interview with Corriere dello Sport.
"We will have an ending. But the two of us, who are nearing 60, should be lucky enough to be here when the final verdict is delivered. Because now the sentence will come, and after a year, there will be an appeal."
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman of Manchester City and Ferran Soriano, CEO of Manchester City
Manchester City confirmed their appeal last week(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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City maintain their denial of the charges levelled against them, releasing a statement last week confirming an appeal had been lodged.
"Manchester City Football Club can confirm that at 7pm on Thursday 1st October 2026 the club lodged its comprehensive appeal against the opinion of the Premier League Commission, in relation to the Premier League disciplinary matter," the statement from City read.
"The club's firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe.
"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.
"We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete."