Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has firmly denied any personal responsibility regarding a controversial "double contract" following reports that the club has been found guilty of 114 of 115 Premier League financial charges. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, the Italian coach insisted the ongoing scandal "is not my problem" and disputed the outcome of the unprecedented legal case, maintaining the club's innocence. The verdict, which arrives after a marathon investigation and independent commission hearing, places City's early era of dominance under intense scrutiny.
The Secret Al Jazira Contract Allegations
The Premier League's sweeping charges against Manchester City span a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018. A central piece of the financial breaches involves Mancini's tenure at the Etihad Stadium between December 2009 and May 2013. During those four years, Mancini delivered the club's first major trophy in 35 years (the 2011 FA Cup) and their first top-flight crown in 44 years with the iconic 2011-12 Premier League title.
According to the allegations and leaked documents originally published by German outlet Der Spiegel, Mancini operated under two separate agreements. His official contract with Manchester City reportedly paid him a base net salary of €1.69 million (£1.5 million) per season. Concurrently, a secondary agreement was allegedly established with UAE-based club Al Jazira—which is also owned by City chief Sheikh Mansour. That secondary contract reportedly paid Mancini an additional €2.03 million (£1.75 million) annually to act as a club consultant. Notably, the agreement required him to work a minimum of just four days a year for Al Jazira.
The Premier League alleges that a company named 'Italy International Services' invoiced these consultancy fees to Manchester City. The funds were then purportedly routed through the Abu Dhabi United Group to Al Jazira, and finally paid out to Mancini. This complex corporate structure was allegedly designed to bypass the Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) of the Premier League and the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations of UEFA by keeping the manager's true compensation off the official club wage bill.
"Not My Problem, Theirs If Anything"
Despite widespread reports—led by breaking news on September 26, 2026, that an independent commission has found Manchester City guilty of 114 charges—Mancini remained defiant when questioned over the weekend.
"I don't think Manchester City were found guilty, quite the opposite," Mancini told reporters at a press conference. "It's not a problem that concerns me, and it isn't anything new. Manchester City are not guilty, and on the double contract it isn't my problem, theirs if anything."
Mancini's swift move to distance himself from the accounting practices comes as Manchester City themselves continue to combat the legal outcome. Following the leak of the guilty verdict, club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak released an official statement reaffirming their stance. Al Mubarak declared that the club's "confidence and intent in proving the club's innocence is just as strong as when this began," indicating that an appeal or further legal resistance is highly likely.
What Happens Next for Manchester City?
With the guilty verdict on 114 of the 115 charges now reportedly confirmed by the independent panel following a grueling hearing, the footballing world awaits the final sanctions.
Potential punishments cover a massive spectrum. The club could face astronomical financial fines or heavy retroactive points deductions. There is also the severe possibility of stripping the titles won during the investigated 2009-2018 era. This would erase the 2012 Premier League crown secured on the final day under Mancini, as well as the 2014 title won by Manuel Pellegrini, and Pep Guardiola's 2018 championship. The most extreme scenario on the table—which league executives have not ruled out—is a complete expulsion from the Premier League and a demotion through the English Football League (EFL) pyramid.
While Matchwise's AI-driven match analysis focuses heavily on tracking modern tactical shifts and current on-pitch performance, the sheer scale of these off-pitch sanctions threatens to permanently reshape the landscape of English football. The tactical evolution City spearheaded over the last decade is etched in history, but the financial foundation of that success is now officially compromised. For now, the key architects of that early era, including Mancini, are eager to keep the legal fallout strictly at arm's length.
What were the 115 charges against Manchester City?
The Premier League charged Manchester City with 115 breaches of financial regulations spanning from 2009 to 2018. The allegations primarily focused on the club failing to provide accurate financial information, specifically regarding sponsorship revenues and hidden operating costs like supplementary "double contracts" for managers and players.
Will Manchester City be stripped of their Premier League titles?
While no official sanctions have been formally announced following the reported guilty verdict on 114 charges, stripping titles won between 2009 and 2018 remains a possible punishment. This would retroactively impact the three Premier League titles won under Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini, and Pep Guardiola during that span, though the independent commission is yet to confirm the exact penalties.