In the midst of Manchester City facing over 100 charges related to alleged violations of Premier League regulations the team's manager Pep Guardiola has emphasised his support for financial fair play (FFP) rules while maintaining the club's innocence until proven guilty.
The FFP is designed to reduce excessive spending by clubs to prevent financial instability, but there are concerns that it might discourage wealthy entities from investing in clubs to propel them to higher levels.
Guardiola expressed his backing for FFP, asserting that clubs breaking these rules should face consequences. Despite City's legal predicament, Guardiola affirmed his belief in the club's innocence, highlighting the need for the legal process to unfold before any judgments are made.
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"Why should I not believe (we are innocent)? It's the lawyers to make the defence in front of the judge. We wait and after we accept the resolutions," Guardiola told reporters on Friday.
The recent ten-point deduction handed to Everton for violating these regulations prompted questions about fairness in punishment. City currently leads the Premier League table, and Guardiola acknowledged the differing circumstances between Everton's case and their own, urging patience as the legal proceedings unfold.
Addressing the possibility of severe penalties, Guardiola rejected comparisons between the two cases and emphasised the complexity of City's situation. "I'm not going to say one word about Everton because I don't know the reality of what happened. They are two completely different cases," Guardiola said.
"I know people are saying, 'Why don't City go to the Conference' (the National League and lowest division on the English football pyramid). But let's wait. It's two different cases, it's not the same. One of them is longer, it's more complicated."
As the Premier League landscape reacts to Everton's penalty, Guardiola faced questions about his commitment to City, particularly if demotion occurred. He responded firmly, stating, You're questioning me like we have been punished. At the moment, we're innocent. There is more chance I will stay if we are in League One than if we win the Champions League."
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