MX23RW : Sunday, June 2 18:04:17| >> :120:4204:4204:

Pep Guardiola: "We are innocent until it is proven"

Pep Guardiola:
© Reuters
A future ban from the Champions League is one possible sanction the Premier League champions could face from UEFA.

Pep Guardiola said he would accept any punishment UEFA may hand down to Manchester City for alleged breaches of financial fair play regulations but reiterated his trust in the club's hierarchy.

A future ban from the Champions League is one of a number of possible punishments after UEFA's club financial control body chief investigator referred City to the European governing body's adjudicatory chamber over the matter on Thursday.

The newly-crowned Premier League champions issued a statement to say they were "disappointed, but regrettably not surprised" by the news and Guardiola on Friday said the club was innocent until proven otherwise.

"I have said many times I trust the club, the people," Guardiola said on the eve of the FA Cup final against Watford.

"I'm sorry. If we did something wrong, and UEFA decide we did something wrong we will be banned or we will be punished.

"Right now I know the people are waiting for us to be guilty but we are innocent until it is proven.

"I spoke with the chairman, with the CEO, I know exactly what happened, exactly what they did and I trust a lot of them. That's all."

City's title celebrations, and the build-up to Saturday's final, have also been overshadowed by the emergence of a video which appears to show players singing a song about Liverpool fans being "battered in the street".

Brighton and Hove Albion v Manchester City – Premier League – AMEX Stadium
Manchester City's title celebrations have been overshadowed by events off the pitch this season (Nick Potts/PA)

But Guardiola denied that was accurate and said no offence was intended.

"It was not what people say," Guardiola said. "If you could imagine just for one second that we could offend about what this tragedy is about, all the Liverpool people.

"We are happy for ourselves. If someone was offended, I'm sorry, I apologise. We celebrated for ourselves and how happy we were to win this Premier League against an incredible contender."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Ian Parker, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '07352861-651a-4354-9b55-94ba5f9c90b1');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'City are innocent until proven guilty over FFP probe, insists Guardiola'});

ID:359562: cacheID:359562:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6648:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt celebrates after putting his side a goal in front against Tottenham Hotspur on May 8, 2019
Read Next:
Matthijs de Ligt 'still open to Man Utd move'
>
Read more about Pep Guardiola Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38287396346291
2Arsenal38285591296289
3Liverpool382410486414582
4Aston Villa382081076611568
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs382061274611366
6Chelsea381891177631463
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381861485622360
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd38186145758-160
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham381410146074-1452
10Crystal Palace381310155758-149
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton381212145562-748
12Bournemouth38139165467-1348
13Fulham38138175561-647
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38137185065-1546
15Everton38139164051-1140
16Brentford38109195665-939
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3899204967-1832
RLuton TownLuton3868245285-3326
RBurnley3859244178-3724
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd38372835104-6916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!