Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes that the club’s Premier League rivals are eager to see them punished for the alleged breaches of financial rules. Guardiola expressed relief that the hearing for City’s 115 charges, pending since February 2023, is set to begin on Monday. The charges come after a lengthy four-year investigation, with accusations that the City violated financial regulations between 2009 and 2018.
City, however, continues to deny the allegations, stating that a wealth of irrefutable evidence supports their defense. These charges have stirred opinions across European football, with one of the most vocal critics being Javier Tebas, president of Spain’s La Liga. Tebas has been critical of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, accusing the clubs of being financially backed by state wealth and dubbing the situation “financial doping.” According to Tebas, many Premier League clubs share this sentiment and wish to see City face sanctions for their actions.
On Friday, Guardiola responded to Tebas’s remarks, acknowledging, for the first time, that he agreed with the La Liga president on this matter. He stated that most Premier League teams are undoubtedly waiting for City to be penalized. However, Guardiola urged everyone, including Tebas and the English clubs, to allow the independent panel to decide before jumping to conclusions. He emphasized that in a modern democracy, justice should be left to the authorities, not the court of public opinion. Reflecting on the UEFA case, Guardiola firmly believed that City had done nothing wrong.
The trial, which has already been billed as the sport’s “trial of the century,” is expected to last ten weeks, with a verdict anticipated in early 2025. The Premier League has accused the city of financial violations and has failed to cooperate with the investigation. The origins of these allegations date back to a German newspaper report from Der Spiegel, which claimed that City’s internal emails had been illegally hacked and published out of context.
Should the charges against City be upheld, the consequences could be severe. A points deduction significant enough to push the reigning champions towards relegation or even expulsion from the Premier League is among the possible sanctions. Guardiola remains hopeful, reiterating that he looks forward to the hearing’s outcome and is confident in the process. He noted that he is aware of the public’s expectations and the rumors that will likely surface as the case unfolds but stressed the importance of the principle of innocence until proven guilty.
Since the club’s takeover by Abu Dhabi’s City Football Group in 2008, Manchester City has achieved remarkable success, including eight Premier League titles, numerous domestic trophies, and a Champions League triumph. Despite the intense scrutiny, Guardiola remains optimistic that the independent panel will deliver a fair decision.
With the hearing set to commence, the football world waits to see how one of the most significant legal battles in modern sports will play out, as Guardiola called for patience and faith in the justice system.