Pep Guardiola breaks silence with clear message to Man City after guilty verdict on 114 charges
Pep Guardiola has finally addressed supporters after the Premier League confirmed Manchester City had been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them following an independent commission hearing.
The news first broke on September 25 before the Premier League released a lengthy statement confirming the verdict on September 29.
City have been found guilty of 114 charges, mostly relating to breaches of Premier League financial rules between 2008/09 and 2017/18 – a period in which they won three Premier League titles.
Pep Guardiola breaks silence on Man City 115 charges verdict
The final one of these titles came under Guardiola’s guidance, with the Spaniard managing the side between 2016 and last summer, when he finally departed after winning 20 major trophies, including six titles.
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And finally, Guardiola has spoken out via social media, posting the following statement on Wednesday afternoon:
“I want every single @ManCity fan to know I am here; more than ever. I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran, the players, staff, Enzo and you, our unique supporters.
“Let me be clear: we will get through this together.
“I love you all 🩵.”
There have been calls to strip City of the three titles they won during the period in question, with potential punishments ranging from points deductions and expulsion/relegation from the top flight to a transfer ban or compensation payments to teams impacted.
In a lengthy statement, the league confirmed that the club had used “sham contracts” as a way of inflating revenue figures and reducing costs.
According to the Premier League, City were found to have arranged disguised funding schemes worth more than £830million with commercial partners.
City deny any wrongdoing and say they have a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists” to support their position.
The commission also said City were found guilty of all but one charge relating to non-cooperation with the investigation, claiming that “a number of important club witnesses gave false evidence in key respects and that some knowingly gave untrue and dishonest evidence”.
The club have until October 2 to appeal the verdict.
Former Man City players react to verdict
Several former players, including Rodri and Joe Hart, have defended the club, suggesting they believe City are innocent until proven otherwise.
“Until the moment they are proved wrong, we will believe the club. They always tell us the confidence they have on the innocence,” Rodri said last week.
Meanwhile, Hart said that he trusts City chair Khaldoon Al Mubarak because he “has no reason not to trust [him]”.
Former City right-back Micah Richards described being “devastated” by the ruling.
“The reports were troubling,” the former full-back said on The Rest is Football Podcast.
“I saw the words which were used by the Premier League in sham contracts and I felt absolutely devastated.
“I’ve been at that club since I was 14 years old, I would die for that club. I achieved my dream at Manchester City, but then to hear these reports, and not only me as an ex-player, but the fans, what they have to go through, absolutely devastating.”
Man City release statement maintaining innocence after 115 charges guilty verdict
A statement released by City in response to the Premier League’s original statement read: “Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today.
“The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case. The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.
“The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted.
“The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.
“The Club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete.”
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Topics: Man City, Pep Guardiola
Luke Davies