Pep Guardiola has launched an attack on Manchester City’s Premier League rivals days before the start of the club’s 115 charges hearing.
The hearing into City‘s alleged breaches of Premier League rules is scheduled to begin on Monday following a lengthy investigation into the defending champions.
The charges relate to a nine-year period, starting in 2009 and ending in 2018, with City accused of various alleged rule breaches – all of which the club strenuously deny.
City have been accused of failing to provide accurate financial information, failing to provide accurate details for player and manager payments, breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR), failing to comply with UEFA regulations including financial fair play (FFP) and failing to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation.
City claim they have “irrefutable evidence” to support their defence, with the matter now set to be settled by an independent panel.
There has been speculation over what punishment City could face if they lose the case, with a final verdict – including any potential appeal – not expected to be announced until after the 2024/25 season.
While relegation has been touted as one potential punishment, it is seen as more likely that City would receive a substantial points deduction and fine if they are found guilty of all charges.
Earlier this week, La Liga president Javier Tebas said that many of City’s biggest rivals want to see the club punished even before the start of the hearing.
“I have spoken with many Premier League clubs and most of them understand that City should be sanctioned,” said Tebas.
Tebas added that “they [Manchester City’ were once acquitted by the CAS [Court of Arbitration for Sport] for a formal matter”, referring to City’s previous case with UEFA – which resulted in the club’s ban from European competition being overturned following an appeal.
When asked about Tebas’ comments, Guardiola made an unsubstantiated claim that every Premier League club – including rivals Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool – want City to be punished.
“Maybe he’s right,” said Guardiola.
“For the fact that all the Premier League teams want us to be sanctioned, that is for sure.
“I agree with Tebas for the first time, and hopefully the last. I am pretty sure I agree with that. That’s why I say to Mr Tebas and the Premier League teams: wait for the independent panel.
“Justice is there in a modern democracy so yeah, wait for the decision, it’s not more complicated than that. But I don’t know if he is a lawyer or the rest of the Premier League teams are lawyers so what I ask for is that – wait, it happened with UEFA.
Guardiola has aimed a dig at City’s Premier League rivals (Image: Getty)
“We believe that we have not done anything wrong so we go to an independent panel and we are going to wait.”
“There are many lawyers in this country and in Spain but I wait,” added Guardiola, speaking ahead of City’s Premier League clash with Brentford on Saturday.
“We’re going to wait and see,” he said. We are not lawyers. Erling [Haaland] is not a lawyer so we didn’t talk about it. What is going to happen is with the independent panel and we will accept the sentence.
“I’m happy it starts on Monday and I know there will be more rumours about the sentences that come up and we’re going to see. I know what people are looking for, I know what they are expecting – I know it because I have read it for many years – but I’ve said everyone is innocent until guilt is proven.
“So we will see.”