Pep Guardiola has stated that Manchester City’s Premier League rivals want the club punished ahead of the Man City hearing into alleged financial rule breaches. The hearing, set to begin on Monday, will address 115 charges brought against City following a four-year investigation.
City were first charged in February 2023, accused of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules between 2009 and 2018. Despite the allegations, the club maintains its innocence, pointing to “irrefutable evidence” in their defense.
Javier Tebas, the president of Spain’s La Liga, has been a vocal critic of City and PSG, accusing them of “financial doping” due to their ownership by state-backed entities. Tebas claims Premier League clubs share his view and want to see City face punishment.
“I’ve spoken to many Premier League clubs, and most agree City should be sanctioned,” Tebas said, as reported by Mundo Deportivo. Guardiola responded on Friday, surprisingly agreeing with Tebas for the first time. “All Premier League teams want us to be sanctioned,” Guardiola said, adding that he believes the independent panel will deliver justice.
Guardiola emphasized that in a democracy, decisions should be left to independent panels rather than the opinions of rival clubs. He referenced the previous UEFA case against City, where the club also maintained they had done nothing wrong.
The Man City hearing, dubbed “sport’s trial of the century,” is expected to last 10 weeks, with a verdict likely in early 2025. The Premier League has accused City of failing to cooperate with its investigation. When the investigation began, City labeled the allegations “entirely false,” stating they originated from illegally hacked emails published by German newspaper Der Spiegel.
If found guilty, City could face severe penalties, including points deductions, relegation, or even expulsion from the Premier League. Since their takeover by Abu Dhabi in 2008, City have won eight league titles, numerous cups, and the Champions League.
Guardiola expressed relief that the Man City hearing will finally begin on Monday, hoping for a swift resolution. He acknowledged the speculation surrounding the case and reiterated the principle of innocence until proven guilty.
City’s charges include 54 counts of providing inaccurate financial information from 2009 to 2018, 14 counts related to inaccurate payments to players and managers, five counts of breaching UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules, seven breaches of Premier League PSR rules, and 35 counts of failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations.
As the Man City hearing approaches, the football world watches closely, awaiting the outcome of a case that could have lasting implications for both the club and the league.
