PEP GUARDIOLA has spoken out after Manchester City were charged with 115 financial breaches by the Premier League.
The charges relate to breaching financial regulations over nine seasons between 2009 and 2018 – plus further charges of failing to cooperate and hand over documents as required over the last five seasons from 2018-19 to 2022-23.
City released a statement revealing they were “surprised” by the charges and Guardiola commented on the matter in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Aston Villa.
He said: “My first thought is already that we have been condemned.
“What has happened after Monday is the same as happened with Uefa. We were condemned. We have just a charge.
“Why should when they told me before they defend the accusation from Uefa, the club proved we were completely innocent, why should now be condemned?
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“19 teams of the PL are accusing us without the chance to defend and the words of my chairman my CEO my owner explain everything, you know what side I am on.”
City have been charged following a four-year investigation but have not yet been found guilty.
If they are City could be expelled from the Prem and stripped of the titles they have won since 2009.
Asked if he believed the charges were driven by their Prem rivals, Guardiola said: “Go to the chairman, CEOs, Daniel Levy, ask them.
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“These 19 Premier League have set a precedent. What they [rival PL clubs] have done to us, be careful with that.
“Be careful in the future. Many clubs can make suggestions and there are a lot of clubs that can be accused, like we have been accused.”
City chiefs plan to fight the accusations and could go all the way to the High Court or to the Supreme Court if necessary.
And just as in their victory over Uefa after the Champions League ban three years ago, City will unleash an army of lawyers to defeat the Prem legal team and put the charges to bed for good.
Guardiola is confident City will be able to defend themselves against the charges, and prevail even if they suffer expulsion.
He added: “Another side I would say we are lucky we live in a marvellous country where everyone is innocent until proved guilty. We didn’t have this opportunity.
“We are already sentenced. What is going to happen I don’t know. Personally I am happy we are here, like Uefa we have the chance to defend. I think we have good lawyers. I think the Premier League supported by 19 teams will have good lawyers too.
“Just in case we are not innocent we will accept what the judge in the Premier League decides but what happens if in the same situation that Uefa happened we are innocent, what happened to restore or pay back our damage?
“Because the damage is now for one decade, eight nine 10.
“One week later, Uefa make a statement against us, nine teams (lists them) a letter out of the Champions League. They are not enemies or friends just interested.
“Now it is not different in that moment, about zero, the same accusations, you have to be out of the Champions League, go to League One, no League One is too good, League Two.
“Dickov, Mike Summerbee, we will be back I am sure. We should wait. The Premier League cannot decide. We are going to in the Uefa situations.
“We are not part of the establishment of this league but at the same time I understand they can do it but let us defend please.
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“In this country, everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
“Now it is time for the lawyers for both sides to defend the positions of one side or the other one but I am not involved. In one month, two three it will be longer, I know it.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
