MANCHESTER CITY expect boss Pep Guardiola will have left the club before they are punished for over 100 financial rule breaches, according to reports
On Monday, a bombshell announcement by the Premier League saw the champions be charged with financial offences into triple digits.
The charges relate to financial information regarding revenue, details of manager and player remuneration, Uefa regulations, profitability and sustainability and co-operation with Prem investigations.
Guardiola stated last May that if he had been lied to about the club’s financial dealings that he’s “be out”.
He said: “I said to them, ‘If you lie to me, I am not here. I will be out’.”
But according to The Athletic, there is already a growing expectation that Guardiola will not still be in charge by the time any potential sanctions are imposed on City.
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An independent commission have been referred the matter with a number of sanctions possible, ranging from a points deduction to even expulsion.
Guardiola is said to have been one of the first to be told of the news before it was made public.
Later on Monday, the squad and other members of staff were addressed regarding the charges.
City have reportedly hired one of Boris Johnson’s “partygate” lawyers to help defend the club against charges from the Prem.
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The Lawyer report that City are now drafting in the biggest names from the legal professional to help defend their case.
Respected lawyer Lord Pannick KC has been hired by the club as they look to clear their name.
He has previously advised Johnson over allegations that he partied in Downing Street during lockdown.
Lord Pannick is widely believed to be one of the best barristers of his generation and is now set to be involved in what will likely be an extraordinary legal battle.
It is also likely to be costly for the club as Lord Pannick could reportedly be paid £80,000 a day, or £400,000 a week, should the case come to trial and he was to be working full-time.
This wage would equal what star player Kevin De Bruyne is earning.
Lord Pannick is reported to typically charge around £5,000 an hour for his services and even at that wage he would be pocketing more than all but seven of City’s players.
Guardiola committed his future until the summer of 2025 late last year after signing a contract extension.
The former Barcelona coach was into the final seven months of his existing deal.
Guardiola’s City aren’t having the best of domestic campaigns.
The Carabao Cup final – a competition City have dominated in recent years – will be contested later this month between Newcastle and rivals Manchester United.
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And in the league, they trail leaders Arsenal by five points having failed to capitalise on the Gunners’ 1-0 defeat to Everton at the weekend.
City themselves lost 1-0 to Tottenham, meaning Arsenal still have a game in hand and could extend the gap to eight points.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
