Pep Guardiola took to social media to voice his unwavering support for Manchester City’s players, staff, supporters and owners, writing, “We will get through this together. I love you all.” The message came after an independent commission concluded that the club had breached Premier League financial regulations on a massive scale.
The commission’s report found that between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons Manchester City had set up a series of sham contracts with commercial partners. These arrangements were described as a "disguised funding scheme" designed to inflate the club’s declared revenue by roughly £830 million. The findings represent the most serious financial misconduct ever recorded in the league’s history.
City have consistently denied any wrongdoing. Chief executive Ferran Soriano dismissed the investigation as a "Premier League conspiracy theory" in a video addressed to players and staff, and the club confirmed it will lodge an appeal. Under Premier League rules, the appeal must be filed by Friday, 2 October, and any hearing can last no more than five days. Once the hearing concludes, the board has a further 30 days to deliver a decision.
Guardiola, who managed City from 2016 until 2026, posted a heartfelt statement: "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." The timing of the verdict has reignited old rivalries.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool were denied the Premier League crown by Guardiola’s City by a single point in both the 2018/19 and 2021/22 campaigns. When asked in 2024 whether Liverpool would celebrate if City were stripped of those titles, Klopp joked, "If you organise a bus parade, I am in! How long it takes, I don't care how long it takes!" Yet his tone grew more measured when the conversation shifted to the independent commission’s findings. Speaking before Germany’s Nations League match against Serbia, Klopp admitted, "I really haven't given it much thought, but of course I've noticed it.
I also remember what I said: 'If there's ever a victory parade, I'll be there'. It doesn't feel like that anymore. It's not that I feel I have to have a bus parade.
I can just sit back and wait for it happen." He went on to praise Guardiola’s side, saying, "I have huge respect for Pep Guardiola and the football City played during the time we were up against them. The sort of football they put on the pitch, the sort of opponents they were for us. It's far too big.
The standard is far too high." Klopp added that any sanctions would be a matter for the legal process, not his own concerns: "If any sanctions are imposed, I've got nothing to do with it. And that's why I'm waiting to see what happens.
The legal proceedings have been going on for a long time; I assume there will be an appeal, which will take ages. I'm a long way from preparing myself for it in any way, and I've got absolutely no sense of it." The broader football community has been digesting the ramifications of the guilty verdict.
The commission itself expressed regret that the investigation had taken so long, noting that hearings stretched from September to December 2024. Manchester City responded on Tuesday with a formal statement, describing the commission’s opinion as "disappointing and surprising" and insisting the club is "innocent of the accusations". The club claimed to possess "a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence" supporting its position and vowed to be "relentless" in any regulatory or legal forums. City’s statement also highlighted the club’s belief that the Premier League process should be independent and impartial, free from partisan influence.
It warned that further comment would be limited until all proceedings conclude. Notably, the club mistakenly referred to the investigative body as a "Premier League commission" when it is, in fact, an independent commission. While the legal battle unfolds, fans and pundits alike are speculating on the possible outcomes. If the appeal fails, the Premier League could impose sanctions ranging from fines to points deductions, and there is even talk of revoking the league titles won during the period in question.
Such a move would be unprecedented and would reshape the historical record of English football. Beyond the immediate fallout, the case raises broader questions about financial transparency in the sport.
The alleged £830 million revenue inflation, if proven, would suggest a systemic vulnerability that other clubs might be tempted to exploit. Regulators are now under pressure to tighten oversight and ensure that financial fair play rules are applied consistently across all tiers. For City supporters, the message from Guardiola offers a rallying point. His affirmation of loyalty underscores a belief that the club’s identity extends beyond trophies and legal disputes.
As the appeal process moves forward, the sentiment among fans remains one of cautious optimism, hoping that the club’s on‑field achievements will eventually be vindicated, or at the very least, that the legal battle will not diminish the passion that defines Manchester City. In the meantime, the football world watches closely, aware that the outcome could set a landmark precedent for how financial misconduct is addressed in the Premier League and beyond.