Online Reporter
Soriano declined to comment when he arrived in Copenhagen ahead of today’s general assembly of the powerful European Football Clubs organisation.
But in a late evening meeting of the EFC’s ruling board, including TWO Prem rivals, the Etihad exec surprised those present by standing up to make a declaration.
In what was an implicit confirmation that the Prem’s independent commission has ruled that City were guilty of the vast majority of the 130 allegations of breaching financial rules, Soriano told the room that he felt he had to make a brief statement.
According to sources who were present at the meeting, Soriano said he wanted to make it clear that he disagreed with the ruling of the commission, and that he and City were confident of eventually winning their battle.
The Spaniard then added: “It’s taken eight years to get there – and it’s going to take a lot more time.”
Jean-Claude Blanc, head of Ineos Sport and chief of international football relations at Manchester United, and Everton owner Dan Friedkin – there in his similar role with Roma – were both present as Soriano made his unexpected comment.
It was a signal of City’s continued insistence that the allegations they faced were groundless, despite the commission findings.
And it comes as top flight clubs are piling the pressure on Prem chiefs to release the full written verdict. Club bosses were informed of the general thrust and findings on Thursday, leading to four days of frantic speculation and responses.
But so far the details and reasonings behind the independent commission’s ruling remain unclear. That has frustrated a number of Prem outfits, who feel that the longer the situation remains unclarified, the worse it is for the entire League.
City are understood to believe the verdict could be published within days, although it is not expected to come in the next 48 hours.
The Etihad club feel that they are hamstrung by the confidentiality agreements in place, preventing them from stating their case and addressing aspects of the decision with which they profoundly disagree. City chief remain utterly convinced that they will eventually be vindicated, with Soriano’s comments indicative of that stance.
But his warning about the elongated timescale would hint that, as far as City are concerned, there is no appetite whatsoever for a line to be drawn under the proceedings unless they are cleared of all the charges. – Sun.
