Guardiola sends message to Man City after guilty verdict

Man City have been found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules by an independent commission; City were charged by the Premier League with more than 100 breaches in February 2023; City continue to deny the breaches and intend to appeal decision

>Pep Guardiola has posted a message of support to Manchester City's players, staff, fans and ownership saying: "We will get through this together. I love you all."

>Man City were found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules by an independent commission.

>The independent commission found that between 2009/10 and 2017/18, Manchester City arranged "sham" contracts with a number of its commercial partners as part of a "disguised funding scheme" to artificially inflate the club's revenues by £830m.

>The club continue to deny the breaches, with chief executive Ferran Soriano calling the process a "Premier League conspiracy theory" in a video message to players and staff. The club have confirmed they will appeal against the ruling and have until Friday October 2 to do so.

>Guardiola, who was City manager between 2016 and 2026, posted on social media: "I want every single Manchester City fan across the world to know I am here; more than ever. I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran, the players, staff, Enzo [Maresca] and you, our unique supporters.

>"Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all."

>As the football world continued to digest news of Man City's guilty verdict, on Wednesday:

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>Man City Premier League charges: How 'disguised funding scheme' changed the football landscape - Between the Lines

>Man City charges: Reaction and findings as commission finds club guilty of all charges related to 'serious financial breaches'

>Man City: Football finance expert Kieran Maguire reacts to guilty verdict on charges

>How much did Manchester City inflate their sponsorship income?

>Man City charges: How the back pages reacted to guilty verdict

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>The commission also said it was "regrettable" that a decision had taken so long to reach, with the hearing having taken place between September and December 2024.

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>A Manchester City statement released on Tuesday read: "Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League commission, that has been published today.

>"The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case. The club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.

>"The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe.

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>"The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.

>"The club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete."

>Manchester City's statement erroneously refers to a Premier League commission. It is an independent commission.

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