Pep Guardiola’s comments could come back to haunt Manchester City after the defending Premier League champions were charged with breaking financial rules.
According to reports, a four-year investigation revealed City had allegedly breached over 100 violations since the Abu Dhabi United Group’s takeover in 2008, with the allegations taking place from 2009 up to 2018.
An independent commission could hit City with different punishments, including a potential points deduction, fine or even expelling them from the Premier League.
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Guardiola previously expressed his concerns with the City hierarchy after the club were investigated for breaching UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations.
The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona manager admitted that he told the City uppers he would walk from the club if they were to lie to him again.
“Why did I defend the club and the people? It’s because I work with them,” he said in 2022.
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“When they are accused of something I ask them, ‘Tell me about that’. They explain and I believe them. I said to them, ‘If you lie to me, the day after I am not here.’ I will be out and I will not be your friend anymore.
“I put my faith in you because I believe you 100 per cent from day one and I defend the club because of that.
“When you put something here [sponsor] it’s overpaid, but other [clubs] the money comes from the USA but the money is correct, even if it’s higher.
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“We have to deal with that, we have to fight with that. As always, I am a big fan to support this organisation, no doubt.
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“It’s a situation in 2012 or 2013, I was still in Barcelona, most of the people running that are not here now, but of course I would not like it. What I like is to represent a club who do things properly [and] well. It’s not about winning the Champions League and the Premier League, we want to do well for our people and our fans.”
City have since issued a statement in response to the Premier League allegations, with the club saying it “welcomes the review” from the independent commission.
“Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with,” reads the statement on City’s official website.
“The club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.
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“As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”
Topics: Pep Guardiola, Manchester City, Premier League, England, Football
Adnan Riaz