ไทย
English
中國人
Pep Guardiola says he remains fully confident that Manchester City will ultimately be exonerated once the drawn-out legal dispute with the Premier League finally reaches its conclusion.
It was in February 2023 that City were initially handed 115 charges of violating the Premier League's financial regulations. A hearing took place the following year, and supporters are becoming increasingly impatient over the prolonged wait for a decision.
City have consistently denied all allegations levelled against them, and Guardiola has stood firmly behind his club from day one right through to his farewell match against Aston Villa on Sunday.
"I trust them," Guardiola emphasized ahead of the match.
"Because I spoke with them and I trust how they behave and how they did. So what happened ... there will be the resolution.
"Nobody [from] the staff, the backroom staff or mainly the players and manager was here. So it's a long, long time ago. And I trust them. I said before what happened and I said no."
When Will Man City Learn the Outcome?
This is the question that has been on the minds of supporters for the past three years.
An inquiry into City's financial affairs dates back to March 2019, triggered by leaks of confidential club emails, and it took nearly four years before formal charges were filed. Among the 115 charges are 35 individual accusations of failing to cooperate with the investigation.
City have publicly rejected all allegations of misconduct and have contested the case through legal channels. A verdict had initially been anticipated before the close of last season, but the sheer complexity of the charges has caused significant delays.
Given the legal nature of the proceedings, public statements from those involved have been minimal. Requests for a timeline have consistently been deflected by Premier League CEO Richard Masters, who has repeatedly refused to comment on the still-active case.
Consequently, there is no reliable way to predict when a verdict will be delivered. Even after a ruling is made, the losing side is widely expected to file an appeal, which could necessitate its own extensive hearing and further postpone any potential sanctions should City be found guilty.
The matter will likely be one of the first topics put to whoever steps into Guardiola's shoes — widely expected to be former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca — in the Etihad dugout this summer.