12 February 2023 , 16:39
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Manchester City fans booed the Premier League anthem ahead of Sunday’s clash against Aston Villa after being hit with multiple charges by the league.
Reigning top-flight champions City have been hit with multiple charges and accused of more than 100 breaches, relating to activities between 2009 and 2018. An independent commission is due to rule on the findings, though the club will be unable to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, something which saw them avoid a ban following previous charges brought by UEFA.
It has been reported that a number of City’s league rivals are keen for the club to be relegated from the Premier League if the charges are upheld. The punishment that the club may face can range from fines to points deductions or even expulsion from the Premier League.
City later issued their own statement which said the club would use “irrefutable evidence” to put the matter “to rest once and for all”. In 2020 the club were previously charged by UEFA for committing "serious breaches" of FFP regulations between 2012 and 2016 before seeing their two-year ban from European competitions overturned at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
In his press conference on Friday, a clearly agitated Guardiola refuted the new allegations, which he alleged had been brought by the other 19 teams in the Premier League. He said he is convinced City will be exonerated, despite being presumed guilty.
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“My first thought is that we have already been condemned,” he said. “So, what’s happened since Monday happened before with UEFA – we were condemned, we already have the accusation, now we have charges.
Man City fans booed the Premier League anthem ahead of playing Aston Villa (Manchester City FC via Getty Ima)“You have to understand that 19 teams in the Premier League are accusing us without letting us [have the] opportunity to defend in the words of my club, my owner, my chairman, my people. They explain everything during these three or four years. You know exactly on what side I am.”
City have hired Lord Pannick KC – the same lawyer who was successful at CAS in 2020 – to fight their case against the Premier League. It is a case that is likely to last several years before any definitive decisions are reached.