Manchester City, currently embroiled in a high-profile hearing over alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules, is expected to learn the outcome of these charges soon.
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that the club anticipates receiving a verdict within the next month. The charges against Manchester City involve 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations, with potential sanctions ranging from substantial fines to points deductions or even relegation.
Despite these serious allegations, City has consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintains that they have provided extensive evidence to support their position. Guardiola addressed speculation surrounding City’s significant spending during the January transfer window, which saw them invest £180 million in new players. He dismissed suggestions that this expenditure was motivated by concerns over a potential future transfer ban. Instead, he emphasized that the signings were part of efforts to bolster his team following recent performances.
“We will see what happens,” Guardiola said when asked about his views on the situation once a verdict is delivered.
“In one month, I think there will be a verdict and a sentence.”
City’s aggressive spending was highlighted by their acquisition of four new players: defenders Abdoukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis, forward Omar Marmoush, and midfielder Nico Gonzalez. This strategy was not driven by anticipation of future restrictions but rather aimed at addressing recent struggles on the pitch.
Guardiola also pointed out that despite their recent spending spree, Manchester City remains below other top clubs in terms of net spend over the past five years. He attributed this to successful sales from homegrown talent like Cole Palmer and Liam Delap.
Meanwhile, tensions between Manchester City and Premier League officials continue as City launches another legal challenge against what they describe as ‘unlawful’ sponsorship rules related to Associated Party Transactions (APTs). This follows an earlier defeat when most top-flight clubs voted in favor of changes to these rules last year.
Manchester City have been the subject of a hearing after being alleged to have breached 115 of the Premier League’s financial rules, with a verdict now expected imminently.
Pep Guardiola has revealed City will discover the verdict of their hearing into 115 charges of alleged Premier League financial breaches NEXT MONTH.
City have won the last four top-flight titles but major question marks have been hanging over them, with potential sanctions ranging from massive fines to points deductions. City have vehemently denied the charges in a hearing which was sat between September and December last year.
The independent commission has unlimited powers to punish the champions – if found guilty. A result had been expected in the first quarter of 2025 and Guardiola has now admitted that the final decision is just weeks away.
The revelation came after the City boss was asked whether their January window – which saw them spend £180million – was planned with the possibility of a future transfer ban in mind.
Guardiola said: “In one month, I think there will be a verdict and a sentence. After that, we will see my opinion of what happened so far.”
City signed four players during the January window in an attempt to reverse a slump which has seen their hopes of a record-breaking fifth title evaporate. Defenders Abdoukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis, forward Omar Marmoush and midfielder Nico Gonzalez all arrived in a month where they spent more than the rest of the Premier League combined.
But Guardiola insisted that aggressive approach was not a result of something coming down the tracks, rather a reaction to the struggles that have come before it. He also suggested that such a window was possible due to profitable sales on homegrown players like Cole Palmer and Liam Delap in recent years.
He added: “My words will not convince people,” he said. “I know with this club it is always ‘just about the money’.
“But in the past five years, we are the last among the top six for net spend. Even after what we have spent in this transfer window, we are away from Chelsea, (Manchester) United, Arsenal, Tottenham. Even from Liverpool. The only reason why is we sell a lot in the last seasons.”
City’s on-going row with Premier League bosses intensified on Friday, after launching a new legal challenge over what they describe as ‘unlawful’ sponsorship rules.
City have launched a fresh legal claim over what they consider to be ‘unlawful’ sponsorship rules.
The club were defeated in November last year when the majority of top-flight sides voted in favour of changes to the Premier League’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules following a legal challenge by City last summer.
APT rules are in place to stop clubs from receiving huge amounts of money from companies which are affiliated to them. Last year’s independent tribunal found that the existing rules that were in place were unlawful, but City felt that the league had rushed through the case in order to satisfy some of their rivals.
City only received the backing of three other Premier League clubs in the vote, but a new report from The Times says the club’s lawyers have now informed the league that they are seeking another arbitration on the matter.