Pep Guardiola has backed Manchester City and its owners after an independent commission found the club guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules over nine years, with the club set to appeal and politicians weighing in.
Key facts
- Manchester City was found guilty of all charges of breaching Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period.
- The judgment referenced more than 100 breaches and £900m of sham contracts.
- Pep Guardiola, who left City in the summer, said he remains behind the club: 'We will get through this together'.
- City maintain their innocence and are set to appeal before Friday's deadline.
- The Independent Football Regulator confirmed it has powers to investigate the suitability of the Abu Dhabi United Group as owners.
Pep Guardiola has thrown his support behind Manchester City after the club was found guilty of all charges of breaching Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period. Addressing fans, the former City manager said: “We will get through this together,” adding, “I am, always have been, always will be behind my club.”
Guardiola left City in the summer after a trophy-laden decade in charge. The period covering his first two seasons was part of the investigation ruled on by the independent commission, according to the Guardian. He remains a close ally of the chief executive, Ferran Soriano, who brought him to England, with the pair having previously worked together at Barcelona.
The club maintains its innocence and is set to appeal against the decision before Friday’s deadline. According to the Guardian, former City chair David Bernstein has called for the club’s directors to quit following the verdicts.
The fallout has drawn in political figures. Andy Burnham said he would be “really concerned” to lose Manchester City’s owners as a result of the club being found guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League rules, describing the club as “a huge partner in building modern Manchester”.
On the same day, the Independent Football Regulator confirmed it has powers to investigate the suitability of the Abu Dhabi United Group to own an English club, following the independent commission’s judgment regarding £900m of sham contracts. According to the Guardian, the prime minister praised City’s owners for their investment of billions of pounds into Manchester.
The combination of the guilty verdicts, the planned appeal, and regulatory scrutiny leaves the club facing an uncertain period both on and off the pitch.
Why it matters
The guilty verdicts against one of English football's most successful clubs raise questions about financial fair play and ownership suitability at the highest level of the game. With the Independent Football Regulator now empowered to probe the owners and politicians warning of economic consequences for Manchester, the case could have wide-reaching implications for the sport and the city.
Frequently asked questions
What was Manchester City found guilty of?
The club was found guilty by an independent commission of all charges of breaching Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period, with the judgment referencing more than 100 breaches and £900m of sham contracts.
Is Manchester City appealing the decision?
Yes. The club maintains its innocence and is set to appeal against the decision before Friday's deadline.
Could Manchester City lose its owners?
The Independent Football Regulator confirmed it has powers to investigate the suitability of the Abu Dhabi United Group to own an English club, and Andy Burnham said he would be 'really concerned' if the club lost its owners.