Pep Guardiola has expressed his strong support for financial fair play and believes that any club found to be violating its rules should face consequences. This comes as Manchester City is facing over 100 charges for breaking the Premier League’s regulations.
Following a violation of the profit and sustainability regulations, Everton received a 10 point deduction. There have been rumors that if Manchester City is found guilty of similar charges, they may face more severe consequences, such as being relegated. However, City has denied any wrongdoing and their manager, Guardiola, stated that he will honor his contract until the end of next season, even if the team is demoted to League One.
The purpose of FFP is to restrict spending and avoid clubs from facing severe financial problems. However, some believe that this could prevent wealthy entities from investing in a club to improve its performance. When asked about his opinion on FFP, Guardiola was unsure.
“He stated that they have implemented a regulation to promote fairness in football and it is essential to abide by the laws,” he stated. “We are being closely monitored and as a strong believer in adhering to rules, I believe that punishments should be given for any wrongdoing. I fully support the implementation of FFP by Uefa and Fifa.”
Guardiola requested for patience as City’s situation is being settled. He mentioned that in 2020, the court of arbitration for sport reversed a two-year suspension from European competition, despite City being initially charged with violating Uefa FFP regulations. Cas also decreased City’s penalty from €30m to €10m.
Guardiola advised that we should wait for the verdict to be announced. He acknowledged that some may be anxious, but referenced the situation with Uefa and urged patience. He emphasized the team’s innocence and stressed the importance of being presumed innocent until proven guilty.
When questioned about the possibility of considering his position if City is found guilty and relegated, Guardiola replied, “That’s a valid question. I will provide an answer once the sentence has been given. It seems like you are assuming we have already been punished. Right now, we are innocent until proven guilty. I am aware that people are eager for a decision, and I can feel it. I will wait and see what happens, and then we will come back and clarify everything.”
“I will not base my future solely on whether I am in the Premier League or League One. Regardless, I am more likely to stay if we are in League One rather than the Champions League.”
In May 2022, Guardiola stated that he had discussed the allegations against the club with the City leadership and would resign if he had been deceived. He clarified that Everton’s situation is distinct from City’s, as the Merseyside club was found to have exceeded their permitted losses by £19.5m. The main allegation against the treble champions is that they inflated their sponsorship deals.
“The accusations made against us are not something we agree with,” he stated. “We will defend ourselves and once the matter is resolved, I will remain as a spokesperson for my club. I want to emphasize that Everton’s case is distinct, and while I am not fully aware of the details, our legal team and club officials have informed me that it is completely separate from any other case. Therefore, it is not fair to make comparisons as each case is unique.”
“Perhaps you are aware, but I consulted our team and we determined that these are two distinct scenarios. I understand that some may wonder why City has not attended the Conference. However, please be patient as events unfold.”
On Saturday at 12:30pm, the top-ranked City team will host Liverpool, who are in second place. Erling Haaland may not be able to play due to an injury he sustained while playing for Norway, so he will undergo a fitness test. The manager stated that Haaland trained with minor discomfort yesterday and they are hopeful he will be able to participate in today’s training session.
When questioned about Jürgen Klopp’s grievance of having to play the first game on Saturday after an international break, Guardiola expressed his understanding. He stated that Klopp’s statement was accurate and that he was simply standing up for his team.
Source: theguardian.com
