Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has told a meeting of fellow club chiefs their fight against the Premier League could take years to conclude, Sky News understands.

Soriano declined to answer questions from Sky News about the case as he left a private meeting of the executive board of the European Football Clubs’ body in Copenhagen.

But inside the room, sources have told Sky News that Soriano brought up the case against City, referencing the interest of other clubs – without directly mentioning the verdict of guilt over financial wrongdoing for years.

Soriano is understood to have referenced how it has been eight years since the allegations of misconduct were first made and how it will take a lot more time for a conclusion.

Sources say he expressed a determination to fight the case – with City able to appeal while there is a separate process that will determine sanctions.

Sky Sports News understands that the process is moving to the appeal stage, after reports claimed that most of the charges against the club for breaking Financial Fair Play rules were found to have been proven.

The Premier League and City have not denied that the club has been found guilty of the majority of charges which were first brought against them in 2023.

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said in a statement on Saturday: “The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began.”

City’s statement after latest reports

A City spokesperson said on Friday: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality.

“As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023.

“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”

City’s initial response to Premier League charges

City were charged in February 2023.

At the time, they responded with a statement, which read: “Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.

“The club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.

“As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”

Northern Ireland were left frustrated in a 0-0 draw at home to Hungary that looked to be there for the taking.

Patrick Kelly twice went close in the first half and Isaac Price was denied by Balazs Toth late on, but Northern Ireland could not find a goal which would have made it a perfect start to the campaign in Group B2 of the Nations League.

They looked the better side against higher-ranked opposition who struggled to create chances until the latter stages of a night when Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai’s most notable contribution was to charge up the Windsor Park crowd.

There were nervous moments in the closing stages as Ruairi McConville made a key block from Willi Orban and Pierce Charles saved from Alex Toth to preserve his fifth clean sheet in seven competitive appearances for Northern Ireland.

It means Michael O’Neill’s side have lost only one of their last 10 games in Belfast, and they looked resolute again with Hungary managing only one shot on target.

The major frustration for O’Neill will be the number of yellow cards shown by referee Ricardo De Burgos, with four Northern Ireland players – Shea Charles, Jamie Donley, Isaac Price and Ethan Galbraith – going in the book along with the manager himself.

Coming off the back of Friday’s last-gasp 1-0 win in Tbilisi and enjoying the roar of a Windsor Park crowd for the first time in 315 days, Northern Ireland were quick to get at Hungary with a strong press, picking off hurried passes from the visiting defence.

That led to chances for the busy Galbraith and Price early on before Trai Hume sent a shot from the edge of the area narrowly wide.

Northern Ireland’s best two chances of the first half both came for Kelly. Just after the half-hour mark, Price slipped it through and the Barnsley midfielder tried to chip Blackburn’s Balazs Toth but could not get enough height on the shot with the goal gaping.

Then Tom Atcheson flicked on a Ciaron Brown long throw, and although Shea Charles could not reach the ball as he tussled with Milos Kerkez, it fell for an off-balance Kelly who looped it up on to the top of the crossbar.

Hungary were not enjoying Northern Ireland’s physical approach as they struggled to threaten and tempers began to fray.

After Donley became the third home player to be booked O’Neill also saw yellow for his protests and the half ended in confrontation after Charles left Daniel Lukacs in a heap challenging for a high ball.

Hungary began to get forward more after the break. Schafer sent a snapshot wide inside the box, then missed the target from long range after a short free-kick before Donat Barany headed over from a corner.

Northern Ireland were struggling to get forward as they had in the first half, but from a free-kick pumped into the box Price spun away from Kerkez before seeing his shot saved at the near post.

At the other end, McConville threw himself in front of a close-range strike from Orban and Charles repelled a powerful strike from Bournemouth’s Alex Toth as time ticked down.