Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his eagerness to see the outcome of the upcoming hearing into the club’s alleged financial rule breaches.
The hearing, set to commence on Monday, will examine 115 charges related to supposed infractions between 2009 and 2018.
Guardiola welcomes the impending conclusion to a process that began in February 2023, when the charges were first announced.
He is optimistic that the independent commission’s decision, expected in early 2025, will bring closure to the matter.
Guardiola’s forward-looking stance comes as the club prepares to face the music, with a verdict that could have significant implications for Manchester City’s future.
“It starts soon and hopefully finishes soon.”
“An independent panel will decide. I’m looking forward to the decision.
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.”
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If City are found guilty, the punishment handed down by the independent commission could range from a fine and points deduction to expulsion from the Premier League.
But despite the severity of some of the sanctions on the table, Guardiola insists the case is not a topic of conversation between the players in the dressing room.
“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.”
The charges against City have come at a time when they are the dominant force in English football having won a record four Premier League titles in a row.
And Guardiola hinted that he thinks the rest of the Premier League are keen for the club to be found guilty.
“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.”
Manchester City faces 115 charges of financial misconduct, spanning 14 seasons, including inaccurate information, hidden payment details, breaches of Premier League financial rules,
UEFA financial fair play violations, and non-cooperation, but the club strongly denies all allegations, citing “irrefutable evidence” to support their position.
