The hammer has appeared to drop on Manchester City. David Ornstein reported for The Athletic on Friday that City have been found guilty on almost all of the charges for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules. That news has triggered a plethora of opinion pieces on how tainted City’s success since 2008 has been and how significant the punishment that City will receive will be. In the face of Friday’s report, Manchester City remain defiant. Manchester City’s chairman, Khaldoon Al-Mubarak, has released a statement that shows that the fight will go on for City. Friday’s report of a guilty verdict hasn’t changed Manchester City’s stance as the fight to clear the clubs name will continue.

Following Friday’s reports, Manchester City first released a statement via the Athletic that said: “ The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the Club’s statement of February 2023. ”

“ 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. “

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak released an open letter on mancity.com yesterday. Al-Mubarak stated that the Premier League’s process in regards to the ‘115’ case still has a long way to run. Also, the City chairman reiterated his and the club’s confidence and intent to clear the club’s name. Khaldoon Al-Mubarak also said that there are a host of reasons as to why Manchester City are confident in their position. However, due to the strict confidentiality behind the legal process in play, he couldn’t further explain that stance. Khaldoon Al-Mubarak’s full letter can be viewed at the link below.

I cannot speak for every Manchester City fan, nor would I attempt to. Since Friday’s revelation, City fans have had to deal with their club being branded ‘cheats’ and that will continue until the entire ‘115’ affair is eventually, finally, put to bed. Given that City will highly likely appeal the reported verdict, that day could be a long way away yet.

David Ornstein’s initial report did hit like a tonne of bricks. The guilty verdict wasn’t expected given how confident the City hierarchy had been through the entire process. But this isn’t a path that anyone associated with City hasn’t been down before. UEFA found City guilty of breaching their financial fair play rules in February 2020. Manchester City subsequently appealed that verdict to the Court of Arbitration for Sport five months later and were ultimately cleared. So the ‘115’ situation sits right where it is right now, which isn’t a new experience.

Looking at the entire situation, until any appeal is heard and the Premier League’s verdict is released, backing the club is the only course of action I can take. The Manchester City hierarchy has given myself no reason to doubt them since 2008. Khaldoon Al-Mubarak’s letter just further validates this stance or view. The report of City being found guilty of the Premier League’s charges isn’t the conclusion to the saga. There is a long road ahead and the end game isn’t in sight just yet.

For now, the lumps will come and be taken on the chin. Rival fans have branded Manchester City ‘cheats’ for years now. My point of view may come across as deluded. City are my club and I’ll support them through thick and thin. I always have and always will, wherever that journey takes me. Friday’s news was a shock to the system but it does seem like the next junction on the road ahead. Where the ‘115’ saga goes next remains to be seen. But Manchester City remain defiant and the fight to clear the club’s name looks set to continue for some time yet.