Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola broke his silence on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, releasing a statement of support for the club following an independent Premier League commission ruling. The regulatory panel found the reigning English champions guilty of 114 out of 115 charges concerning historic financial irregularities and breaches of financial fair play regulations.

Guardiola, who managed Manchester City across 10 seasons and won 20 official trophies before stepping down in 2026, posted a message directly addressing the supporters, the board, and current manager Enzo Maresca. In his public statement, the Spanish coach affirmed his commitment to standing alongside the organization as it faces the most severe regulatory crisis in its modern history.

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“I want every single @ManCity fan 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 and you, our unique supporters. Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all,” Guardiola wrote on social media.

Commission findings against Manchester City detail sham contracts

The commission issued its findings on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, concluding an extensive investigation that the Premier League opened in 2018. According to the league, the regulatory probe revealed that Manchester City utilized simulated commercial agreements, described in legal filings as sham contracts, to disguise actual operational expenditures and artificially inflate commercial turnover between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 campaigns.

Investigators documented transactions involving club owner Abu Dhabi United Group and marketing company Fordham, which acquired image rights of players with third-party funding. The Premier League stated that these financial mechanisms allowed the organization to underreport costs and overstate earnings by approximately 900 million pounds, which amounts to roughly 6.2 billion Brazilian reais, deceiving independent auditors and football regulators while surpassing established expenditure thresholds.

The league also noted that the club repeatedly failed to act in utmost good faith during the inquiry, citing multiple breaches of its statutory duty to cooperate with governing bodies throughout the multi-year process.

Manchester City confirms immediate appeal against ruling

Manchester City rejected the commission findings, maintaining total innocence and confirming that legal counsel has already initiated proceedings to challenge the determination before an independent appeals panel. Club leadership, headed by chief executive officer Ferran Soriano, insisted that the organization possesses comprehensive documentation proving compliance with financial standards across all contested accounting cycles.

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“The club is innocent of the charges made by the Premier League and possesses a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that supports all of its positions related to this case,” Manchester City stated in an official announcement, adding that it will actively defend its record in all appropriate legal forums.

Key figures and regulatory benchmarks in the Premier League case

• 114: number of financial rule violations out of 115 total charges upheld by the independent commission
• 900 million pounds: approximate volume of artificially inflated revenue and hidden costs identified by investigators
• 20: official trophies secured by Pep Guardiola during his tenure as Manchester City manager
• 10: consecutive seasons spent by Guardiola in charge of the squad between 2016 and 2026
• October 2, 2026: formal deadline set under Premier League operational rules for the submission of the appeal

Investigation background and timeline since 2018

The Premier League opened its formal inquiry into Manchester City in late 2018 after internal documents and corporate emails leaked by German magazine Der Spiegel became public. Following years of legal challenges regarding disclosure requirements, the league formally referred 115 alleged rule breaches to an independent commission in February 2023, overseen by Premier League chief executive officer Richard Masters.

Guardiola arrived at Manchester City in 2016 and secured six Premier League titles along with one UEFA Champions League trophy before his departure in May 2026. Throughout his tenure, the Catalan manager publicly defended the integrity of club executives, stating on multiple occasions that he retained absolute trust in Soriano and the hierarchy while warning that his position was contingent on the accuracy of their internal accounts.

Pending decisions on sporting sanctions and timeline

The exact sporting sanctions against Manchester City remain undecided, as the independent commission must convene a separate hearing dedicated entirely to determining penalties. The Premier League confirmed that possible sanctions range from financial fines and competitive point deductions to potential divisional relegation or the retroactive rescission of tournament honors.

Premier League regulations dictate that the subsequent penalty hearing will be conducted confidentially until an official resolution is ready for public disclosure. The league board indicated that it aims to conclude the appeal process and release the final sporting sanctions without procedural delay, while Manchester City must file its formal appeal brief before Friday, October 2, 2026.