The Premier League charged City with more than 100 alleged breaches of financial regulations on Monday and has referred the findings to an independent commission.
City say they are “surprised” and “welcome a review of this matter”
Pep Guardiola is “fully convinced” Manchester City are innocent but says they have been “sentenced already” after being charged by the Premier League for allegedly breaching financial rules. The Premier League charged City with more than 100 alleged breaches of financial regulations on Monday and has referred the findings to an independent commission. The charges relate to nine years from 2009, but City say they are “surprised” and “welcome a review of this matter”. Speaking to the media for the first time since the charges were announced, Guardiola criticised some outside parties for being quick to pass judgement. “My first thought is we’ve already been condemned,” the City boss said.
“We are lucky we live in a country where everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and we didn’t have this opportunity. We have been sentenced already. So what is going to happen? I don’t know. We have good lawyers, and I know we will defend our position.”
Guardiola is fully convinced that City will be innocent
City previously had a European competition ban for breaching UEFA’s financial fair play regulations overturned following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2020. In May 2022, Guardiola explained why he had backed City back then and is confident the club will prove their innocence again. “This happened with UEFA; it is the same,” he said. “The same articles, the same accusations. We will defend ourselves like what happened in the UEFA situation. The court will dictate what happens. I am fully convinced that we will be innocent. Since Abu Dhabi took over the club, it has been like that since day one.” Guardiola accused City’s Premier League rivals of conspiring against them and suggested other clubs have been pushing for them to be punished.
An unprecedented story
Asked if he felt other clubs had been driving the matter, Guardiola said: “Of course – it is the Premier League. I don’t know why. You have to ask the CEOs, Daniel Levy, these kinds of people.” In response to Guardiola’s comments about Tottenham chairman Levy, Spurs said they do not wish to comment. Guardiola also referenced the conduct of certain clubs during the process that saw City initially banned by UEFA for two years. He said: “Nine teams – Burnley, Wolves, Leicester, Newcastle, Spurs, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea – (wrote a letter wanting us) out of the Champions League, that they wanted that position. “It’s not an unprecedented story; it’s the second time. We lived that before, two or three years ago.”
“You accuse us – we should be out, but between those nine teams before and the 19 teams now, between their word and the word of my people, I’m sorry, but I rely on the words of my people.”
City could face heavy punishment, including points deductions and expulsion from the Premier League if found guilty. Guardiola did not say exactly why he felt other clubs would push for City to be sanctioned but suggested they should be careful what they wish for. The 52-year-old is confident City will be exonerated but intimated other clubs could fall foul in the future. He said: “It is difficult for me to answer, I don’t know, but they open a precedent now with what they have done to us. Be careful in the future because many clubs can make suggestions, and many clubs can be accused, like we are accused, without being innocent. When they push to get rid of us, they obviously believe we didn’t behave properly. We can accept that, but let us defend ourselves.”