Pep Guardiola Slams Critics of Manchester City Amid 115 Premier League Charges
The Manchester City boss has spoken out about the upcoming hearing into the 115 Premier League charges, saying he hopes it will come to a swift conclusion.
The charges, which were announced back in February, relate to alleged breaches of Premier League rules between 2009 and 2023. City have denied any wrongdoing and claim they have "irrefutable evidence" to support their defense.
Despite the impending hearing, Guardiola insists it won’t be a distraction for his players as they look to win a fifth consecutive Premier League title. "No, we have been talking about that for three or four years," he said. "We know it’s going to happen. We accept it and focus on our matches."
Guardiola has also aimed a dig at critics who are calling for City to be punished before the hearing has even taken place. "I wish, from deep in my heart, go to the trial, the independent panel – and I say again, independent panel – and as soon as possible release what happened and we will accept it like always we have done," he said.
The hearing is expected to begin on September 16 and will be overseen by an independent panel. It’s set to last around two months, with a final outcome likely to be delivered by the end of the current campaign.
So, what are the charges against Manchester City? In a nutshell, they relate to:
- 54 counts of failing to provide accurate information
- 14 counts of failing to provide accurate details for player and manager payments
- 7 counts of breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR)
- 5 counts of failing to comply with UEFA regulations, including financial fair play (FFP)
- 35 counts of failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations from 2018 onwards
It’s worth noting that City are also currently locked in a separate legal battle with the Premier League over its associated party transaction (APT) rules. A verdict in that case is expected to be announced in the coming days.
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