The Manchester City bombshell that rocked the Premier League world earlier today is sure to be one of the biggest talking points for the remainder of the 2022-23 season after the reigning champions are said to have breached FFP regulations over 100 times between 2009-2018, calling into question each of the club’s league titles under the guidance of City Football Group and club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.
Possible sanctions ranging from a transfer ban to a heavy fine, or even incredibly, the prospect of expulsion from the top flight of English football are all potential pathways to punishment for the six-time Premier League winners.
If the aforementioned levels of punishment are not severe enough, old quotes by manager Pep Guardiola dating back to May 2022 could provide another headache as the story continues to unfold, with The Athletic detailing Guardiola’s stance that the Spanish tactician would leave City if it turns out that the club had indeed lied to the former Spanish international regarding the club’s financial affairs on and off the pitch.
Speaking in May last year, Pep Guardiola said he told Manchester City he would leave if he found out the club had lied to him about their financial affairs. pic.twitter.com/vgHqSbVY78
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) February 6, 2023
“When they are accused of something I am them ‘Tell me about that.’ Guardiola said at the end of the 2021-22 Premier League season when City was once again crowned top club in England for the fourth time in five seasons.
He continued; “They explain and I believe them. I said to them ‘If you lie to me, the day after I am not here. I will be out and I will not be your friend anymore. I put my faith in you because I believe you 100% from day one and I defend the club because of that.”
There is no guarantee, or room for postulating theories, regarding whether or not Guardiola is in fact privy to the club’s actions during his time at the Etihad, but as this story continues to unfold during a Premier League season where City has been off the boil, it seems logical to deduce that the club will – at the very least – suffer detrimentally in their big for major honors during the current campaign.
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