Roberto Mancini rejects responsibility for the financial irregularities at Manchester City involving dual contracts, stating that the scandal surrounding his former club does not concern him. The former manager, who led the English side from 2009 to 2013, addressed the allegations ahead of an international fixture in France.
The situation escalated when an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of numerous financial rule breaches spanning nearly a decade. While the club has lodged an appeal against the verdict, scrutiny has intensified around historical agreements that concealed total compensation figures from football authorities.
Roberto Mancini Dismisses Personal Liability for Historical Contracts
Confronted by reporters ahead of Friday’s UEFA Nations League fixture against France, Roberto Mancini pushed back against questions regarding his involvement in the financial irregularities. “No. I spoke about it recently. It’s not something that concerns me. Unfortunately, it’s City’s problem,” the Italy national team coach stated, as reported by the Associated Press.
Earlier in the week while in Turkey, Mancini offered a similar defense regarding the arrangement of dual contracts during his tenure at Etihad Stadium. “Manchester City is not guilty. And the fact that there was a dual contract is probably not my problem, but theirs,” he noted at the time.
The scrutiny stems from an investigation into concealed remuneration for players and managers between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. German outlet Der Spiegel initially reported on Mancini’s financial arrangements in 2018, revealing that his baseline salary of 1,45 milionu liber annually was allegedly doubled through a separate advisory services agreement with a firm based in Abu Dhabi. Furthermore, The Telegraph reported that the club may have avoided approximately 12 milionů liber in income tax and national insurance contributions through these structures.
Manchester City Lodges Formal Appeal Against Independent Commission Verdict
The independent commission’s findings concluded that Manchester City breached financial rules across nine separate seasons and failed to cooperate with investigators on multiple counts. Premier League disclosures indicated that the club utilized fictitious commercial agreements to artificially inflate revenues and reduce reported costs by more than 900 milionu liber over a decade.
In response to the judgment, Manchester City announced a formal appeal. The club maintains that the commission’s conclusions contain fundamental legal, principled, and factual errors, asserting that it possesses undeniable evidence to support its innocence. An independent three-person panel, appointed by the chair of the Premier League disciplinary commission, will oversee the appeal proceedings.
Josh Donaldson, global editor for Livesport Zpráv, noted during a recent discussion on the Livesport Daily podcast that the ruling represents a moment for modern football, describing the disclosure documents as severe enough to alter how the league governs competition.
Mancini's Legacy Precedes Upcoming Appeal Committee Proceedings
Mancini remains a figure in Manchester City’s modern history, having ended a 44-year wait for a league title by winning the league in the 2011-12 season, alongside an FA Cup victory in 2011. His tenure concluded in May 2013 following an FA Cup final defeat to Wigan Athletic.
Under the established regulatory framework, the independent appeal committee is expected to conduct proceedings within 12 weeks of the initial filing, with a final decision mandated within 30 days of the hearings’ conclusion. Meanwhile, Manchester City continues its domestic campaign, holding the top position in the Premier League table after five matches.
