Guardiola backs Manchester City owners after independent commission finds club guilty
Pep Guardiola has publicly backed Manchester City after an independent commission found the club guilty of all charges of breaching Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period, the verdict reported on 30 September 2026. He told supporters he remained with the club during the fallout.
Guardiola left City in the summer after a decade in charge, with the period covering his first two seasons included in the commission’s inquiry. He remains a close ally of chief executive Ferran Soriano, who brought him to England and had previously worked with him at Barcelona. City have said they will contest the findings. “I want every single Manchester City fan across the world to know I am here; more than ever,” Guardiola posted on social media. “I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran, the players, staff, Enzo [Maresca] and you, our unique supporters. Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all.”
Twenty trophies were won in the 10 years Guardiola managed City, and he was regularly asked about the allegations during his tenure. The charges against the club were first brought in February 2023, and the 55-year-old has repeatedly expressed faith in what he was told by the club’s Abu Dhabi ownership while the investigation proceeded. “I trust them,” Guardiola said in May. “I spoke with them and trust how they behave and how they did.”
On his departure from the managerial role it was confirmed Guardiola would continue as an global ambassador for City Football Group, a role described as involving him giving “technical advice to the clubs in the group, working on specific projects and collaborations”.
David Bernstein, City’s former chairman, described the situation as “beyond awful” and urged the current board to resign. “I can’t think of a penalty strong enough for this, really. I mean, this is absolutely terrible,” said Bernstein, who was City’s chair between 1998 and 2003. “I want to raise another question, and that is the position of the board of directors. Because the directors of the club, including the chief executive, who’s been there for years and went through this period, are responsible for the running of the club in every respect. If this was a public company of some sort, the directors would have to stand down or be suspended pending the outcome of all this, appeal or no appeal. I don’t think the present management can credibly continue.”
City maintain their innocence and are set to appeal against the independent commission’s decision before Friday’s deadline.