Erling Haaland has encouraged Manchester City fans to remain supportive and optimistic following the club's guilty verdict for violations of Premier League financial regulations. The club has appealed the decision made by an independent commission, which found City guilty of serious breaches related to financial rules.
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In their statement, Manchester City asserted their innocence, describing the commission's judgment as flawed and containing significant errors in law and fact. The commission ruled that between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons, City entered into "sham" contracts with several commercial partners to artificially inflate their revenues by £830 million.
Haaland spoke to fans ahead of City's match against Liverpool, urging them to stick together. He stated, "No matter what happens in life, we always have to have a smile. We have to stay positive and enjoy the situation." The team will face Liverpool at Anfield on October 11, 2023.
With the rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool intensifying under managers Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp, Haaland expressed excitement for the upcoming matchup, reflecting on past experiences against Liverpool, noting that every encounter is unique and special.
The independent commission highlighted that Manchester City had significantly breached financial regulations and failed to cooperate during the investigation, with three out of four charges upheld.
Following the verdict on September 29, City released a statement expressing disappointment with the commission's opinion, claiming to possess irrefutable evidence supporting their position. The club intends to vigorously pursue all available legal avenues to overturn the decision, contending that the process has not been impartial.
As the appeal progresses, it is expected that the timeline could extend into next year, since the club's lawyers may argue that the new rules governing the appeals process should not apply to their case.