Mourinho quips he might not live to see Manchester City case concluded
On October 8, 2026, Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho told Corriere dello Sport he may not live to see the conclusion of Manchester City’s ongoing Premier League legal case after an independent commission found the club guilty on 114 of 115 charges. Mourinho made the remark in the wake of the commission’s verdict and after City launched an appeal against that finding.
The independent commission set up by the Premier League found City guilty of breaches of Premier League regulations covering the 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons, ruling guilty on 114 of 115 charges of serious financial misconduct. The panel also found the club guilty on three of four charges related to a failure to cooperate with the investigation. Authorities accused City of using “sham” commercial agreements to inflate revenue and understate costs by more than £900 million over a decade-long period. City have rejected all the allegations brought against them.
Mourinho delivered a sarcastic dig at City while speaking to Corriere dello Sport, saying the case could continue through multiple rulings and appeals and that he and others might not be around for a final outcome. “I’d rather have a bit of a laugh about it…”.“Being in my 60s, I’ll have to be lucky enough still to be here when the final verdict arrives”.“Now a ruling will come, then an appeal… I’ll be 80!”, Mourinho told @CorSport.
The club launched an appeal against the commission’s guilty verdict on October 2, a move that has delayed any prospective punishment. That appeal will be heard in private, a process the Premier League has said will postpone publication of any outcome or sanctions until the appeal concludes. The private hearing means details of any final determination and penalties will not be made public until after the appeal process finishes.
If City’s appeal is unsuccessful, it remains to be seen what punishment will be imposed upon them. City launched their appeal against the Premier League guilty verdict on October 2.
