by Pep Guardiola threatened to QUIT as Man City manager if club lied to him about financial rule breaches
PEP GUARDIOLA previously claimed he would quit Man City if club chiefs ever lied to him regarding rule breaches.
The Premier League champions are facing more than 100 allegations of breaches of financial rules following a four-year investigation.
Possible punishments include a points deduction or even expulsion from the Premier League.
It comes after Uefa slapped City with a two year ban and fined the club £25million in February 2020 for alleged financial fair play breaches.
Five months later, that ban was overturned and the fine was cut to £9m by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Reflecting on the saga back in August, Guardiola backed the club by insisting he believed no rules had been broken.
But he was also quick to stress he would leave the Etihad if those above chose to deceive him.
He said: “I said to our people, ‘Tell me’ about the suspicions. I looked at them and believed them 100 per cent from day one so I defended the club because of that.
“I did say, ‘If you lie to me, the day after I am not here. I will be out and you will not be my friend any more’.
“I like to represent a club that is doing things properly. In the end it’s not about winning the Champions League or Premier League, it’s about always doing it well, for our people and the passion.”
“What CAS [Court of Arbitration for Sport] said meant a lot. It broke all the suspicion.
“I can not forget that nine teams in the Premier League pushed to sack Manchester City from European competitions, I know who they are.”
Guardiola has won four Premier League titles since joining Man City in 2016.
He has also claimed the FA Cup and four League Cups.
The charges relate to breaching regulations over nine seasons between 2009 and 2018.
City won the title three times in the period covered by the investigation – in 2011-12, 2013-14 and 2017-18 – one of which came under Guardiola.
They have also finished top of the table three times since – in 2018-19, 2020-21 and 2021-22.
The findings of the investigation and multiple alleged breaches have now been referred to an independent commission.
The Premier League added: “The proceedings before the Commission will, in accordance with Premier League Rule W.82, be confidential and heard in private.
“Under Premier League Rule W.82.2, the Commission’s final award will be published on the Premier League’s website.”
