Manchester City chairman: "We are confident in our innocence"

Manchester City’s chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, issued a letter to the club’s supporters on 26 September 2026, responding to media reports and the ongoing Premier League inquiry and insisting the club will prove its innocence.

Chairman addresses fans

Al Mubarak opened the letter by recalling his long association with the club and the shared moments at Etihad, Wembley and Istanbul, and said the attachment he feels to City moved him to write directly to supporters.

He described how, after media coverage on Friday, many supporters — and members of his own circle — spent the evening fielding questions. He told fans: "I have been part of this club for 18 years. I have had the privilege of being with you at the Etihad, at Wembley and in Istanbul. This club means a lot to me and you have shown me and told me — again and again — how much Manchester City means to you. That is why I am writing to you today."

Al Mubarak said he had explained to his family that, in his view, the Premier League investigation is continuing but the club’s confidence and determination to prove its innocence remain as strong as at the start. "This is what I told my family: The Premier League investigation is ongoing, and our confidence and resolve to prove the club’s innocence is just as strong as it was at the outset."

He expressed regret that he could not share more details because the legal process requires strict confidentiality. "Even this letter underwent several legal reviews to ensure it meets the requirements," he added.

Al Mubarak urged supporters to read the club’s formal statements from Friday and from February 2023, stressing that "every word is important and remains true." He also warned that despite the noise around the club nothing has changed and pledged not to allow anyone to disrupt City’s momentum.

Looking ahead to the fixtures after the international break, Al Mubarak closed on an optimistic note and thanked fans for their continued support: "We have faced challenges together before and prevailed. There are still many who want to undermine the momentum of our club. We will not give them that opportunity."

The club also posted the message on its official channels under the caption: "A letter from the Chairman."

Photo: press material from the event