Manchester City appeal confirmed by Premier League
Manchester City have lodged an appeal against the findings of an independent commission regarding breaches of Premier League financial rules, it has been confirmed.
“The club lodged the appeal to the Chair of the Judicial Panel,’ said a Premier League statement. “The independent Appeal Board hearing will remain private and confidential until publication of the outcome is permitted.”
A statement on Manchester City’s website, meanwhile, states:
“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 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.”
Key events
Here’s today’s Football Daily, as penned by, well, me.
Juan in Salford gets in touch: “Everyone seems to think this is all over; are we not allowing for the possibility that City’s appeal is successful and all charges are dropped?”
It’s entirely possible and the damage done is already heavy whatever the outcome.
Rick Harris gets in touch, offering a strong opinion: “I believe I am correct in saying that under the Football Governance Act 2025, every club operating a team in a specified competition is required to hold an operating licence issued by the Independent Football Regulator, and that all professional footballers have to be registered with the FA in order to be able to play in the various leagues and cup competitions.
“In most walks of life if you were accused of serious professional misconduct your employer or professional regulatory body would suspend you at the very least pending the outcome of a court case, so in my opinion the IFR should immediately suspend Manchester City until the end of the present season and the PL should declare the 5 games already played to be null and void. Instead of a 38 game season we will have a 36 game one and City’s last Carabao Cup opponents will be reinstated in their place in the next round.
“If City lose their appeal then the current owners should be declared unfit and improper persons and the club ejected from professional football in England. The IFR should then invite the formation of a 100% supporters owned club along the lines of Barcelona and that new entity should be invited to apply to an appropriate level of the football pyramid consistent with it’s financial resources and ability to engage players and coaching staff etc.
“It is simply inconceivable that City can stay in the PL or complete this seasons fixtures following the guilty verdicts on almost all the charges brought against them.”
World Cup final winning goalscorer Ferran Torres has withdrawn from the national squad with an ankle issue and will be replaced by Carlos Espi.
Coach Luis de la Fuente called up Espi in his place, rewarding the Real Madrid youngster after he scored five goals and set up two more in Spain Under-21s’ 13-0 rout of San Marino on Thursday.
Bloomberg are running a story on Manchester City and Abu Dhabi.
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak met a senior UK government minister to discuss the UAE’s investments in Britain just days before the club’s guilty verdicts were announced. Al Mubarak asked to meet Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds on 14 September in his capacity as CEO of Mubadala Investment Company, the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, sources tell Bloomberg. The pair held a private meeting in Downing Street on that date, the people said. Al Mubarak talked about current and future UAE investment in Britain, they said.
As part of his England press conference, Jordan Pickford talked of his role as backup goalie. Another Brighton man, Jason Steele, is the exemplar of that from the summer.
Pickford said: ““It is not often I do that. The manager told me the reasons why. It was good for me to see where I’m at. It’s about me being a good team-mate with good energy around the place and train well and have that leadership role. I think I’ve done it really well over the last two games.
“It’s not normal for me, but first and foremost, the manager asks to be the best team-mate. I love playing but if I’m watching, I just want the best for England and that’s to win and I think I dealt with it really well. It was different, but we have also been together in a cycle now for two years.
“[James] Trafford started really well for Leeds. It’s been a good unit around us for the last two years. That’s what the manager said and you have to respect that decision.”
Pickford is expected to regain the gloves in Croatia.
How to run a sustainable club? Brighton are celebrating all three Premier League monthly awards for September! Fabian Hürzeler is manager of the month, Pascal Groß is player of the month, and Lewis Dunk – who else? – wins goal of the month.
John Brewin
OK, it was this time last week that the City news leaked and then broke. What a ride it’s been since. More when we get it, and there’s always likely to be more.
That’s the lot from me: John Brewin is here to take the reins.
Over in the WSL, there’s one game tomorrow, before six on Sunday:
Saturday
Manchester United v Liverpool
Sunday
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
Brighton v Charlton
Everton v Birmingham City
Tottenham v London City Lionesses
West Ham v Chelsea
Manchester City v Arsenal
Villa Women go into Sunday’s match against Crystal Palace without manager Natalia Arroyo, who was sacked earlier this week. Brian Sørensen has taken charge as interim head coach.
On the panel for the latest Women’s Football Weekly, presented by Faye Carruthers: Suzanne Wrack, Sophie Downey and Emily Keogh.
Neville makes a good point, I think, about the general perception that corruption and financial doping is something that occurs in other countries.
“I absolutely slammed my club after they put the Super League idea forward,” Neville adds. “City fans and players need to start adopting that tack.
“If we look at other countries … corruption and financial doping … all those things ‘happen in other countries’ … the Premier League is now being dragged through the mud, because the team who’s been the best team for 15 years appear to have won those titles inappropriately. That’s devastating.
“The Premier League survived without Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday … they were bigger than Manchester City a few years ago … I don’t think it’s that important whether City get relegated. It’s a sideshow.
“The achievements in that period, do they stand? And the owners … to own part of a football club is one of the greatest responsibilities you could have … the reality is, it has to be taken very seriously. Don’t get bogged down on fines, or whether City are in League One or League Two.”
Gary Neville is having a chat on telly now, about – you guessed it – Manchester City.
“That period [of Manchester City success] is all in doubt … who knows where it might go … but it’s huge, it undermines the English game, it undermines the achievements of one of the greatest teams we’ve seen.
“I think City players will come out fighting in the next few weeks … that’s quite expected … you defend your club to the hilt … once this plays out.
“If the guilty verdicts remain, it will be a period that is tainted for ever … The achievements are tarnished.”
The England goalie Pickford also said that at 32, he’s young for a goalkeeper. The question is about World Cup cycles, and whether or not he thinks in those terms. He mentions Gianluigi Buffon and Manuel Neuer, and obviously has no intention of hanging up his gloves any time soon.
Jordan Pickford was asked about how it felt to sit out the games against Spain and Czechia. He made all the right noises about being a good team player, and being supportive of James Trafford, even if he didn’t necessarily like being left out.
Burnham urged by Lib Dems to reveal all meetings with owners of Manchester City
Matt Hughes
Andy Burnham is facing calls from the Liberal Democrats to publish details of all his meetings with Manchester City’s owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), and declare all hospitality he has accepted at the Etihad Stadium.
The prime minister was widely criticised this week for saying he would be “really concerned” if ADUG were forced to sell City after being found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial regulations, which led to Downing Street issuing two clarifications of his position on Thursday.
Jordan Pickford is up now.
“We are here in a beautiful place, we are a group that likes to hang out together, so it feels almost like friends,” Tuchel said of the current camp. “We have been seven weeks together in the US, so we have a strong bond, and to have the possibility to be here, in this beautiful place … we train on a high level, we do what we love most, train football in this environment – what is not to love? It’s beautiful.
“It’s a good time to recharge and also prepare for the match, because we expect a very difficult match tomorrow, against a big football nation, and a proud country, a country full of quality in the Croatian side. Very experienced players, also a good mix of young players, and also a new coach. You know how it is, everyone tries to impress the new coach, everything is ready to go and give everything … this is what waits for us. It feels a little bit like a cup game, like a cup semi-final or something … we will prepare carefully.”
Tuchel on Mateo Kovacic: :We had a special relationship, he was my player at Chelsea, we won the Champions League together, such a nice and humble and warm character – and on the pitch, full of character. It was pure pleasure to work with him.
“Every time I see him I love to be close to him and hug him. It feels like a very very close relationship … even if we don’t text that much, and see each other even less … It was a pleasure to work with him … It’s a special bond, and he is a special player for me, always.”
Tuchel on Modric: “Luka is a national hero. Legend of the game … he won the Ballon d’Or at the height of his career. He’s just a fantastic football player, an amazing person … the way he acts on the field, he’s a role model, and a true legend of the game.”
Tuchel is asked a question about the defensive changes in store for tomorrow in England’s lineup.
“It seems Ezri Konsa is back, he did the full training today,” Tuchel says. “This gives us a lot of hope for tomorrow. Nico O’Reilly, our left-back, left camp. On the right side we have competition, Marc should be ready to go, ready to start. The coach will never tell you the lineup … Sometimes you forget that this team who played against Czechia never played together [before] … it was solid and professional … tomorrow we have to find solutions again and we’re up for it.”
Back to Manchester City. In theory, would Tuchel pick players outside the top flight for England [in the event that City are relegated as part of their punishment]?
“There is always a possibility … I think I would always try to pick the best team for the camp, for the occasion, for the tournament. I would never rule out that they don’t play in the top flight in their country, so you need to look at it case-by-case.”
What are Tuchel’s thoughts on Saturday’s game being behind closed doors (a few thousand Croatian children will be present, and around 100 England fans, it is said.)
“First of all I’m happy for the children they have the opportunity to come and watch, that’s I think a big inspirement for them … a big occasion … a unique occasion … I’m glad that 100 [England] or 200 fans have a chance to be here, that means a lot to us, our most loyal fans have a chance to be behind the doors.
“It’s never nice [with no crowd], it’s always a bit of a strange atmosphere then … we love the atmosphere in the stadium, a proper football crowd, and this is a part we have to take into consideration, we cannot fall asleep and switch off and be in holiday mode, it might feel a bit like pre-season, but it’s not pre-season, it’s a crucial match in the Nations League. It’s just another layer to be professional and to take care about. It is what it is and you have to deal with it.”
Regarding team news before the Croatia game – asked if fatigue will play a part in his selection, Tuchel adds:
“Not yet, I think not yet. We took care about fatigue in the last training sessions. It made a huge difference for us, having three days in between. So we could actually take care of players with a high output like Elliot Anderson, like Anthony Gordon, for example.
“Today everyone was in training except Nico O’Reilly, who unfortunately had to leave camp, to get a treatment as soon as possible … with his discomfort it was just too painful, he could not come back on the pitch … that’s the only one who is not available … everyone else started training, finished training today at a high level, we played 10 against 10, so everyone is pickable, and ready to go.”
Has Tuchel spoken to the City players in camp about the current scandal relating to financial breaches? Has it been discussed by everyone in camp?
“I guess so. We had some time off between matches, and it’s a big subject … As you rightly say, everyone speaks about it, there is no other voice needed … I am glad to not be that voice. No one needs my half-knowledge on the topic.
“Of course the players talk about it, of course the Man City players, and we talk with them but only briefly. They are ready to go for tomorrow, that’s what they show on the pitch, and in camp … but of course it’s a big topic, it’s a big topic in camp.”
Here goes, Tuchel is speaking.
Cheers Tom. Yes, Tommy Tuchel is up imminently, to offer no comment on the Manchester City fun and games, before previewing Croatia v England.
Luke is back from lunch which means that Thomas Tuchel will be talking soon. My giddy aunt, I’m out of here.
More emails on City’s appeal. “If this evidence Manchester City is so ‘irrefutable’ – why wasn’t it considered as such during the main hearing? Other clubs should boycott their matches against them this season,” writes Matt Miller.
Tom Atkins adds: “What did people expect? This is an organisation which has spent the last 15 years throwing money and lawyers at any attempt to limit their ambitions or hold them to account, they’re not exactly going to hold their hands up and say ‘it’s a fair cop’ now. Get them out, keep them out for a long time, and award Rob Holding the Premier League medal he deserves.”
You had me until Rob Holding.
Savage steps up to take Peterborough job
Peterborough United have confirmed the appointment of Robbie Savage as their new manager, with the Welshman leaving his role at Forest Green to take up the position.
“Excitement is the word I can use to describe the appointment of Robbie Savage as our new manager. A word I personally haven’t used about our football club for too long,” said chairman Darragh MacAnthony.
“His personality, character and mindset is something we need top to bottom. Nobody will work harder to get us up and running again than Robbie. The board were blown away by him in an extensive interview and his hunger to fix our issues and get confidence back into our talented squad is what I am most excited by.”
Savage added: “What attracted me to the club is the size of the club, the philosophy, working with young players and making them better, but the style of football was key.”
Full story:
No “winning formula” for World Cup success, concludes Fifa technical report
Fifa’s technical report on the 2026 World Cup has highlighted an increased number of tactical strategies at the tournament but concluded there was not necessarily a ‘winning formula’.
The world governing body’s Technical Study Group (TSG) and Football Performance Insights Department (FPI) published a 500-page report on Friday, offering ‘unprecedented insights into how the best national teams and players on the planet are reshaping the modern game’.
All 104 tournament matches were observed using advanced data and video analyses and 11 ‘key tactical and technical’ trends were identified.
FPI lead Tom Gardner said: “The big change between 2022 and 2026 is the variety of different tactical styles that we saw, and how teams were able to execute those different strategies successfully.
“The build-up in a back three was something that we observed as very important, but it wasn’t something that Spain did.
“So we’re not here saying if you want to be a successful team, you have to build up in a back three.
“It’s about saying this is what we’ve observed. This is where we see more and more teams headed, and this is where teams have been able to do it and do it well.”
The key tactical innovations that were identified included building with a back three, wide player rotations, changing the point of attack, attacking transitions, structured high press, defensive blocks and counter pressing.
The report said there were ‘contrasting routes to success’, adding: ‘From aggressive high presses to disciplined low blocks and rapid transitions, the analysis shows that there was no single winning formula.
‘Cabo Verde exemplified how compact defending, collective organisation and proactive goalkeeper involvement can enable teams to compete against technically superior opponents.’ Press Association
Ed Aarons and Miguel Dantas
Rui Pinto is to appeal a decision to end the special protection programme that has safeguarded him since August 2020.
Lawyers for the whistleblower say that he remains at risk and that ending his protection would leave him “more vulnerable than at any point since 2020”. They say the decision was taken without giving him an opportunity to be heard and have described the circumstances surrounding it as a “failure to respect the rule of law”.
Pinto was notified on Wednesday that his protection is due to end on 10 October. His lawyers say they will lodge an administrative appeal with suspensive effect, meaning the decision will be suspended while it is challenged.
In a request to Portugal’s Ministry of Justice, the lawyers asked the government to reconsider the decision, disclose the material on which the latest risk assessment was based, hear Pinto and ensure that his protection continues.
“His situation is now critical,” said his lawyers in a statement. “The threats against him are not merely theoretical: last April, he was assaulted in Lisbon. His revelations implicated powerful individuals with substantial resources, and many of the resulting legal proceedings are still ongoing, as demonstrated by the decision issued just a few days ago by the Premier League’s independent commission concerning Manchester City. Abruptly deprived of his protected residence and placed in a situation of extreme precariousness, Rui Pinto will now be more vulnerable than at any point since 2020.”
Pinto entered Portugal’s protection programme after cooperating with the country’s justice authorities. His revelations have subsequently been used by judicial, tax and sporting authorities across Europe, including the Premier League’s investigation into City’s alleged financial irregularities.
Pinto’s lawyers argue that the authorities should take into account both his cooperation with the justice system and the continuing risks associated with his disclosures before ending his protection.
“This decision, and the manner in which it was taken, regrettably fail to respect the rule of law and constitute an act of state terrorism. We cannot accept this,” they added.
“I, for one, can’t understand how all the other teams can play against Man City over the coming season with this hanging over proceedings,” writes Simon Staffans. “It’ll be so weird – will the points and goals count in the end? What if Isak plays against them at Anfield and comes off with a torn ACL, derailing Liverpool’s season in a match that perhaps should never have been played and definitely not been played with those players playing for Man City? It’s a kind of alternate reality almost. Bizarre, to say the least.”
It’s a great point. City have a knockout cup game this month, how do you respect the result of that if you lose?
Hello, here for the next hour, as Luke said, keep your emails coming in.
I’ll be back at 1.30 for Thomas Tuchel’s media conference – Tom Bassam is stepping into the breach until then.
Thanks for all the emails. You can vent to Tom here!
“Probably wishful thinking,” emails Nick, “but would the frivolity of an unsuccessful appeal factor into any decisions about sanctions, as per a red card? I’ll admit to being biased, but it’s hard to see how City are anything other than bang to rights here.”
In similar vein, Bob chips in with a beautifully precise one-word email, entitled ‘Man City appeal’:
“Farcical.”
“If Manchester City really do have a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions”, why didn’t they disclose these during the investigation and why did they spend so much time and money on lawyers fighting something that they could have, apparently, so easily dismissed?” emails Joe.
“Utterly farcical. Hopefully a swift appeal process and then the punishments can be meted out, and we can all move on with securing compensation for having to put up with this nonsense.”
