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Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano is said to have cautioned executives from rival clubs that it will take "a lot more time" before any definitive resolution emerges from the increasingly complicated Premier League probe into alleged financial wrongdoing.
It was revealed last week that City had been found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges brought against them for failing to accurately report their finances between 2009 and 2018, as well as for refusing to cooperate with the inquiry.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak recently signaled intentions to appeal the decision with a bold pledge to establish the club's innocence, and The Times reports that Soriano conveyed the same sentiment during a recent board meeting of European Football Clubs, the independent organization representing clubs across Europe.
Speaking before a room of fellow executives, Soriano reportedly declared: "It has taken eight years to get here—and it's going to take a lot more time."
As he departed the meeting, Soriano was met with a barrage of questions from Sky News journalists, though the City CEO declined to acknowledge the reporters entirely.
More Fallout to Man City Charges Verdict
• Man City Charges: The Premier League's Multi-Year Investigation Explained
• The Potential Punishments Facing Man City for 115 Premier League Charges
• Every Premier League Points Deduction in History—and the Clubs Hit by Them
• The Premier League Champions If Man City Are Stripped of Titles
Premier League 'to Recommend Punishments' for Man City
The Premier League has yet to issue any statement regarding the initial guilty verdict which, given the forthcoming appeal, has not yet resulted in any penalties being imposed.
City could face a wide range of sanctions should the guilty ruling be upheld. There is no ceiling on the fine that could be levied, a substantial points deduction may also be applied, and the Premier League rulebook even empowers the league to impose any additional punishment it deems appropriate.
Reports indicate the Premier League will submit its recommendations to an independent committee. A three-person commission is anticipated to convene in the coming weeks to deliberate on potential sanctions, with City expected to contest any proposed penalties.
The panel holds the authority to impose transfer bans and could even remove City from the Premier League altogether. The English Football League (EFL), which oversees the Championship and Leagues One and Two, would be under no obligation to accept City under such circumstances.
Joe Hart: I Trust Man City
Those currently affiliated with City have largely stayed silent, though some former players have stepped forward to voice their support for the club.
Rodri, who departed for Barcelona over the summer, recently expressed his belief that City will clear their name, while former goalkeeper Joe Hart has placed his trust in Al Mubarak to set things right.
"I've heard everyone else go down every single rabbit hole, every single wormhole, every single discussion," said Hart, who joined the club in 2006 and made 348 appearances across the 12 years that followed, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live.
"My honest opinion is I've got no reason not to trust Khaldoon. What he said is enough for me. I loved how he spoke. I loved the letter because that was from someone who cared about the club."
He added: "If Man City are found guilty, which I don't think they are because of what Khaldoon said, then there's conversations to be had.
"But right now I'm very confident and very, very calm. I'm very proud of what I've achieved and what I did with Manchester City and what we achieved as a team. And that doesn't change. That doesn't change until you tell me."