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Guardiola Defends Manchester City Amid Financial Charges
Confirmed
In Short: Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has defended the club after it was found guilty of financial rule-breaking.
Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has defended the club after it was found guilty of financial rule-breaking over nine years.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Guardiola said, 'I wish, from deep in my heart, to go to the trial, the independent panel and as soon as possible they release what happened, and we will accept like we always have done.'
Guardiola, who managed City from 2016 to 2026, insisted the club was innocent and suggested confidence in their legal team's ability to secure a favorable outcome.
Guardiola wrote on social media on Wednesday that he is standing by the club, adding, 'Manchester City has not been found guilty, and the alleged double contract is not my concern. It's their issue, not mine.'
The Premier League charges relate to 'sham' commercial contracts used to inflate revenue and understate costs by more than 900 million pounds ($1.2 billion) over nearly a decade.
Guardiola's support for the club comes despite the club's guilty verdict on 114 of 115 charges related to breaching Premier League financial regulations between 2009 and 2018.
During his tenure, Guardiola led City to six Premier League titles, the 2023 Champions League crown, and three FA Cup trophies.
Guardiola's trust in the club hierarchy was evident when he said, 'If you lie to me, the day after I am not here. I will be out and I will not be your friend any more. I put my faith in you because I believe you 100% from day one and I defend the club because of that.'
The club has appealed the verdict and continues to challenge the commission's findings, meaning the legal process is still far from finished.
Guardiola's comments come as the club faces potential punishments including a substantial points deduction, a fine, or even expulsion from the top division.
What this adds
Guardiola's comments add to the club's defense strategy, emphasizing his continued support despite the guilty verdict.
Background
Manchester City has been found guilty of 114 of 115 charges related to breaching Premier League financial regulations between 2009 and 2018, according to reports.
Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has issued a defiant message to other Premier League clubs following the club's guilty verdict on the majority of charges brought against them.
What's confirmed
- Coach Pep Guardiola says he’s staying “behind my club” Manchester City after it was found guilty of dozens of financial violations in the Premier League during his decade-long tenure.
- While he was in charge from 2016-26, Guardiola's expensively assembled team won six Premier Leagues, the 2023 Champions League and three FA Cups among other trophies.
What's still developing
- FILE - Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola lifts the English Premier League trophy after the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Manchester City at the AMEX Stadium in Brighton, England, Sunday, May 12, 2019.
- According to Paul Hirst of The Times, Guardiola intends to attend Manchester City’s Champions League meeting with PSG on Wednesday, October 14.
- ‘If they’re kicked out of the Premier League’ – Man United tipped to sign Man City star Welcome to our Live Comments section, where new comments will appear automatically Your email address will not be published.
- Guardiola was photographed arriving at the showcase in the French capital during the first week of October 2026.
- Guardiola and Serra separated in early 2025 after more than 30 years together, though the precise current status of their divorce proceedings has not been publicly confirmed in detai l.
- Guardiola had previously broken his silence on the regulatory fallout on September 30, releasing a defiant 54-word social media statement pledging his unwavering support for the Manchester City administration.
- It was Pep Guardiola's influence that, in part, flipped this logic on its head over the last decade.
- But for Guardiola, those spaces were less worrying if the ball stayed near the opposition's goal for as long as possible.
- Former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow told the BBC that clubs would be “queueing up to seek compensation”.
- “If the appeal fails, Manchester City cannot stay in the league, they have to suffer. And I say that as a supporter and a fan,” said the club’s former chairman, David Bernstein.
- The Mail reports that he will be joined there by board members including chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.. Gary Lineker makes Man City punishment prediction as club chiefs told to 'own it'. Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham told of Man City guilty verdict early Guardiola won one league title in the two seasons he was in charge between 2009-18, leading City to a league record 100 points in the 2017/18 campaign.
- "This is just not true. Irrefutable evidence has been provided to the Premier League commission that shows it could not happen and that it did not happen. This includes bank statements, money transfers, witnesses, and everything necessary to categorically demonstrate the money did not come from the owner."
Sources
- BBClink
- Bozeman Daily Chroniclelink
- Ottumwa Courierlink
- Caughtoffsidelink
- Pulsesportslink
- BBClink
- Inewslink
- Al Jazeeralink
- Aollink
- The Guardianlink
- WarpBeat — background on Man City guilty charges: Premier League's options, how appeal works, more link
- WarpBeat — background on Man City CEO Defiant After Premier League Charges link