Pep Guardiola Welcomes Imminent Hearing on City Charges

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City expressed relief that the hearing into the 115 charges facing the club will soon begin. The independent disciplinary commission will address the charges which accuse City of breaching Premier League financial rules dating back to 2009.

According to BBC Sport, the hearing will start in September with a verdict likely early next year. City denies all charges and asserts that a “body of irrefutable evidence” supports their defense. Emphasizing his desire for a swift resolution, Guardiola stated, “I am happy it starts soon and hopefully it finishes soon for the benefit of all of us.”

He added that the club will accept the hearing’s outcome, as they always have. Pep Guardiola dismissed concerns that the ongoing legal situation could affect City’s on-field performances, noting that the team has dealt with these issues for several years.

The Premier League filed the charges 18 months ago following a four-year investigation. Recently, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters urged for the case to reach a resolution. In addition to these charges, Manchester City is also pursuing a separate legal dispute with the league over tightened rules regarding ‘fair’ sponsorship deals.

The outcome of this case should arrive in the coming weeks.

The timeline of events leading to the current situation includes:

– November 2018: Allegations of financial misconduct emerge through Football Leaks.
– March 2019: UEFA launches a formal investigation.
– February 2020: UEFA imposes a two-year ban from European competitions, later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
– February 2023: The Premier League files 115 financial charges against City.
– Autumn 2024: The potential start of a legal trial.
– Summer 2025: The expected verdict on the charges.