Nasser Al-Khelaifi Refuses to Criticise Manchester City After 115-Breach Verdict

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has refused to criticise Manchester City after the club was found guilty of 115 breaches of Premier League financial rules, saying it is not his place to judge.

Speaking on Tuesday at the 33rd General Assembly of European Football Clubs in Copenhagen, Al-Khelaifi addressed the case in his role as chairman of the group. He called for patience while the legal process plays out, since City have said they will appeal.

"Firstly, we are not here to judge something that is still not a final decision," he said. "Secondly, we are here to help each other, to support each other. Of course, if there is anything wrong… I'm not a lawyer, but I think that they have the right to appeal, so it is not the final decision."

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He also said the matter belongs to England. "And we are not in a position to say [anything]; it is more a Premier League, an English club matter. Let's see where it will go."

The Premier League found City guilty on all the financial charges brought against them. The breaches go back to the club's takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group. Investigators found that City hid operating costs and inflated sponsorship income, which let them get around spending limits set by UEFA and the Premier League and gave them an unfair edge. City announced their plan to appeal before any punishment has been handed down.

Al-Khelaifi also had kind words for City chief executive Ferran Soriano, who sits on the European Football Clubs board. 

"Ferran has been great to the board. A big asset who adds value to us with his knowledge," he said. "His career is fantastic, and Manchester City did a lot of positive things also, but I am not in a position to judge. We are not in a position to judge. We are not judges and we are not a court."

The comments show Al-Khelaifi wants to keep Europe's top clubs united. By treating the verdict as an English matter, he avoided a split between European football's leaders and one of its biggest members. His praise for Soriano also shows the City boss is still well respected in the European game.

The next step is the Premier League's sanctions, but City's appeal puts a final decision on hold. It is not clear how long the challenge will take, so the club will carry on as normal in the meantime.