Manchester City is facing a significant challenge as an independent hearing into 115 alleged financial breaches kicked off on Monday. This investigation, led by the Premier League, delves into accusations that span a nine-year period, starting in 2009 after the Abu Dhabi United Group took control of the club and continuing until 2018.
The hearing is expected to run for about two months, but fans and pundits alike may need to wait until spring 2025 for the final verdict. If the Premier League succeeds in this case, the consequences could be severe. Speculations suggest that City could face a staggering penalty, with punishments ranging from a points deduction—potentially up to 100 points—to the unthinkable possibility of expulsion from the Premier League, though such extreme measures are likely a distant possibility at this stage.
The charges include 54 counts of failing to provide accurate financial information between 2009 and 2018. Additionally, City is accused of not disclosing proper details of player and manager payments during the same period on 14 occasions. Five charges involve non-compliance with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations from 2013 to 2018, while seven others concern breaches of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability rules (PSR) from 2015 to 2018. Perhaps most damning, 35 charges revolve around City’s alleged failure to cooperate with Premier League investigations between December 2018 and February 2023.
So, what does City manager Pep Guardiola have to say about all this? Ahead of the Brentford match, Guardiola remained composed yet cautious, distancing himself from the legal intricacies. “I’m not a lawyer,” he stated. “There are many lawyers in this country, in Spain; there are many lawyers. But I wait. We are going to wait, and we are going to see.”
When pressed on whether these issues are discussed internally with the players or club staff, Guardiola was clear: “No. I am saying: we are not lawyers. Erling [Haaland] is not a lawyer, no. So we don’t talk about that. It is going to happen, an independent panel, and we’re going to accept the sentence.”
He also addressed the broader speculation surrounding the case, acknowledging the inevitable media buzz but standing firm in his belief in due process. “I don’t talk about [people around the club]. I don’t talk about them. We see. I’m happy that it starts on Monday, and I know you’ll hear more rumors and new specialists about sentences that come up. We’re going to see.”
Guardiola’s calm demeanor was underscored by a firm principle: the presumption of innocence. “I know people are looking forward to it, I know what they are expecting, I know. What I’ve read for many, many years. But I’m set. Everybody is innocent until guilt is proven. So we’ll see.”
As the hearing progresses, the football world will no doubt be watching closely, but Guardiola’s message is one of patience and trust in the system.
