An ‘alternative penalty’ has been proposed as Pep Guardiola says Man City’s Prem rivals want to see the club get punished.
Guardiola said prior to the weekend’s matches that he was glad that the hearing into City’s 115 charges would get underway on Monday (16th September).
City were charged and referred to an independent commission back in February 2023 following a four-year investigation, on the allegation that City breached the Premier League‘s financial rules between 2009 and 2018.
City strongly deny all charges, and add that their case is supported by a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence”.
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Questions put to Pep in the press conference: “Pep, just back on the independent commission, that Javier Tebas (president of Spain’s La Liga) have been talking about in Spain. he claims he has spoken with a lot of Premier League clubs and privately they all think City should be sanctioned. First of all, do you think he should be commenting on it? Secondly, do you think he’s got a point?
Tebas repeatedly accused City – together with Qatar-backed PSG – of being a state club and of “financial doping”.
He said, as per Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo: “I have spoken with many Premier League clubs and most of them understand that City should be sanctioned.
Responding to it, Guardiola said: “For the first time I agree with Tebas.
“All the Premier League teams want us to be sanctioned, that is for sure. But that’s why I say to Mr Tebas and the Premier League teams, wait for the independent panel.
“Justice is there in a modern democracy. It’s not more complicated than that.
“I don’t know if he is a lawyer or the rest of the Premier League teams are lawyers, so I ask for that. It happened with Uefa.
“We believe we have not done anything wrong.”
“It starts soon and hopefully finishes soon,” Guardiola said of the hearing. “An independent panel will decide and I am looking forward to the decision.
“I’m happy it’s starting on Monday. I know there will be more rumours, new specialists about the sentences. We’re going to see. I know what people are looking forward to, what they expect, I know, what I read for many, many years.
“Everybody is innocent until guilt is proven. So we’ll see.”
It’s said in The Telegraph that Man City’s Premier League rivals ‘intend to call for severe penalties which could throw English football into turmoil’ should they be found guilty, as clubs ‘believe a points deduction would not be suitable’ as an ‘alternative’ punishment has been ‘proposed’.
‘Telegraph Sport has been told that teams in the Premier League believe a points deduction — even one that relegated them to the Championship — would not be suitable if City are found guilty of most or all of the charges facing them, given the scale of cheating that would have been proven.
The thought is that if City were demoted one division, they’d be immediate favourites to be promoted straight back.
One alternative meanwhile proposed by a senior figure in the game is for there to be points deductions applied across multiple seasons to severely impact their ability to challenge for honours.
‘Another sanction available to the independent commission sitting in judgment on the case would be expelling City from the Premier League; something that would have major consequences.’
Hearing over Man City’s 115 charges starts Monday – what next, how long, potential punishment?
Here’s how fans reacted with an ‘alternative penalty’ proposed as Pep Guardiola says Man City’s Prem rivals want to see the club punished…
Daryl Roughley: All of football want you sanctioned Pep-lad not just the premier league. You should be stripped of trophies won not just fined and/or points deducted. This is on a par with Lance Armstrong’s cheating the same punishment should apply to
Kev Smith: No bro, your club needs to be held accountable just like Everton and Forest and anyone else breaking rules? Gaslighting at its finest
Daniel McNamara: If City are not punished severly we will all know football is corrupt. At that point millions of people should/will switch off. Over to you Premier League.
Matt Reed:
– 54 charges relate to failing to provide accurate financial information between 2009/10 and 2017/18
– 14 charges relate to failing to provide accurate information on player and manager payments between 2009/10 and 2017/18
– Five charges relate to failing to comply with UEFA’s rules including FFP between 2013/14 and 2017/18
– Seven charges relate to breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) between 2015/16 and 2017/18
– 35 charges relate to failing to comply with the Premier League’s investigations between December 2018 and February 2023
Jason Lee Turner: Well no, what the other clubs want is for City to play by the rules which they, allegedly, haven’t done so need to be punished for it
George Costa: Pep ,really likes to make it seem as though City is being targeted cz of their glory, that’s a no, if they are guilty they must face it, Juventus had been on top on Italian league for years, when they were charged and found guilty they faced the music, He is making it seem like city is above the law and must not be charged, let everyone face the fairness of the rules for healthy competition.
Akuma Smart: It not about EPL teams wanting City to be punished, if guilty, they have to face the consequences of their actions, Nottingham Forest and Everton have been punished in recent times, why is it any different
Mike Maycock: He’s right in some ways, however most fans just want equal treatment for all teams by the PL rather than the rich ones getting away with stuff. Saudis are used to breaking rules etc with the vast sums of oil money they have. They’re also used to bribing their way in life, so watch out for a monetary ‘punishment’ from PL to fill up their coffers.
Diarmaid O Coinin: There is absolutely no way pep goes to Man city in any stage unless he is guaranteed big wages and a big budget lol
Lee Howe: No every other club wants City to abide by the same rules that they have to and be held accountable for their actions not get away with it cause they can afford the best legal team money can buy
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