)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his desire for the 115 Premier League financial charges against the club to be resolved swiftly.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his desire for the 115 Premier League financial charges against the club to be resolved swiftly.
The charges, dating back to the period from 2009 to 2018, accuse City of breaching the league's financial rules and failing to cooperate with the investigation initiated in December 2018.
City has consistently denied any wrongdoing and claims to possess a substantial body of evidence supporting their innocence.
They eagerly await the conclusion of the matter, hoping to put it to rest definitively.
Speaking before their game against Brighton, Guardiola, who has led City to their fifth Premier League title in six seasons, expressed his desire for a prompt resolution.
Guardiola called for both the Premier League and the judges involved to expedite the process, emphasizing that if the club had committed any wrongdoing, it should be made known.
"What I would like is if the Premier League and judges could make something as soon as possible,” Guardiola said.
"Then, if we have done something wrong, everybody will know it and, if we are like we believe as a club for many years, [done things] in the right way, then the people will stop talking about it.
"Hopefully they are not so busy and the judges can see both sides and decide what is the best, because in the end I know fairly what we won we won on the pitch and we don't have any doubts.
"Let's go. Don't wait two years. Why don't we do it quicker? In 24 hours, sit down with lawyers present. Let's have it as soon as possible for the benefit of everyone," he added.
In 2020, City's two-year ban from European competitions for violating UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
However, the club was fined €10 million (£8.67 million) for obstructing the investigation.
While initially indicating their willingness to cooperate with the Premier League process, City has recently maintained silence regarding reports of legal challenges against the charges.
Additionally, they have objected to the appointment of Murray Rosen KC, an Arsenal season-ticket holder, as the person responsible for appointing the chair of the independent commission set to hear the case.
Guardiola confirmed that he would remain at the club next season, regardless of the unresolved charges.
While he expressed uncertainty about his reaction to winning the Champions League, he emphasized his commitment to honouring his contract and respecting the club.
The allegations against City involve accusations of falsifying accounts and inflating sponsorship and commercial deals to enable higher spending while remaining within the limits imposed by UEFA and the Premier League.
The club now faces an independent commission, which holds the power to impose various punishments, ranging from fines and point deductions to expulsion from the Premier League.
The duration of the commission's process remains unknown.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)