Man City chief urges club to stay patient over charges decision

City were referred to an independent commission in February 2023 over the charges, which the club strongly deny. The case was heard between September and December last year but no decision has yet been announced. City could face a points deduction, a heavy fine or even relegation from the Premier League if they are found guilty.

"Well, I suppose the only thing I can say is we still don't have a ruling," Khaldoon said this week. "Once there's a ruling, I'll be able to speak about it. Until then we just have to be patient, and it'll come, and we will talk about it, I promise you, once we have the ruling." The investigation, which resulted in more than 100 charges being made against City, started back in 2018.

City were charged with failing to report accurate financial information for nine seasons stretching from 2009-10 to 2017-18, as well as failing to provide full details of former manager Roberto Mancini's pay between 2009-10 and 2012-13. They are also charged with failing to provide full details of remuneration in contracts with players between 2010-11 and 2015-16, and with failing to co-operate with the investigation over a period from 2018 to 2023.

The club said at the time the charges were laid that they welcomed the opportunity for a commission "to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of our position". City won the Champions League at the end of the season the charges were laid, securing themselves a place in FIFA's expanded 32-team Club World Cup which starts next month.

World players' union FIFPRO has criticised the scheduling of the competition amid player welfare concerns and, along with Europe's domestic leagues organisation, has filed legal complaints against FIFA over a lack of consultation around the international match calendar. Despite that, Khaldoon insists the club are taking the competition seriously and treating it as the official start of next season rather than an extension of the current one.

"This is a very, very serious competition. In the summer, the whole world will be watching this," he said. "A big number of the top teams in the world will be competing in this tournament and I can assure you, we're going to give it our best shot."