Pep Guardiola gives new testimony in 115th case. Man City accused of confession as Liverpool await verdict in Premier League case

A trial into 115 charges against Manchester City over alleged breaches of Premier League Financial Fair Play regulations will begin in September

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola faces the media during a press conference

Pep Guardiola is pleased that the trial into the 115 charges against Manchester City will start in September

Pep Guardiola is pleased that the trial into the 115 charges hanging over Manchester City will start next month. The City manager also hopes the trial will be over soon, when it does, for the good of other Premier League clubs, including Liverpool.

In February last year, they were charged with 115 separate alleged breaches of the league’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, which City deny occurred between 2009 and 2018.

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Their hearing is likely to begin in mid- to late-September, with Premier League chief executive Richard Masters confirming he already has a date for when it will begin. Guardiola has now addressed the update.

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“I’m glad it’s starting soon,” the City manager said at a press conference on Friday ahead of the Premier League clash with Ipswich Town, “and I hope it’s over soon, for the sake of everyone, especially the club, but also the other Premier League clubs and all the people who aren’t waiting for the verdict. I wish, from the bottom of my heart, that this goes to court, to an independent panel – and I repeat, an independent panel – and that what happened is revealed as soon as possible and that we, as always, accept what we’ve done.”

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Asked by reporters whether the case would affect the players, Guardiola insisted: “No, we’ve been talking about it for three or four years.” The allegations come after a four-year investigation that referred them to a commission independent of the Premier League and its clubs, whose members are appointed by the independent chairman of the Premier League Judicial Panel. Potential penalties for City include an unlimited fine, a points deduction that could turn the title race around this season, or even complete expulsion from the Premier League, which would result in relegation from the top flight.