Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a strong response to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin following the latter's comment on Manchester City Financial Fair Play Rules charges.
On Wednesday, January 24, Aleksander Ceferin stoked reactions when he revisited UEFA's decision to ban Manchester City from Europe for breaching Financial Fair Play Rules. In 2020, UEFA's Club Financial Control Body - a policing arm of UEFA to ensure club's adherence to best and sustainable financial practices - slammed City with a two-year ban from Europe, including a £30m fine for false financial reporting.
The regulatory body claimed City had reported inflated amounts in their sponsorship revenue from 2012 to 2016 to make for excessive spending on big signings. Manchester City contested the allegations and the punishment at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) and won. The ban and the fine were overturned.
However, on Wednesday, January 24, Aleksander Ceferin, who spoke with Daily Telegraph, revisited the governing body's decision, insisting they were right despite the judgment of CAS.
Ceferin said, "We know we were right on charges on Manchester City for breaching the Financial Fair Play Rules and on the decision to ban them from Europe.''
Ceferin's statement came against the backdrop of another trying time for Manchester City following 115 charges by the Premier League on the club for the same allegation of breaching Financial Fair Play Rules.
Speaking ahead of Manchester City's FA Cup tie with Tottenham, Pep Guardiola issued a strong response to Ceferin, asking the European football chief to respect the due process of the law.
Guardiola added that he believed Ceferin, who is a lawyer by profession, ought to have exercised restraint and allowed the full cycle of the law to take its course on the allegations.
''As a lawyer, as he is, the president of UEFA should wait,' Guardiola added.
"He has to respect it and wait. He has a lot to do at UEFA. Lawyers should respect the procedure. We have the right to defend ourselves.''
The Premier League are reportedly ready to commence hearing on Man City's financial charges in February 2024 with the club risking relegation, fine, or ban if found guilty.
On Wednesday, January 24, Aleksander Ceferin stoked reactions when he revisited UEFA's decision to ban Manchester City from Europe for breaching Financial Fair Play Rules. In 2020, UEFA's Club Financial Control Body - a policing arm of UEFA to ensure club's adherence to best and sustainable financial practices - slammed City with a two-year ban from Europe, including a £30m fine for false financial reporting.
The regulatory body claimed City had reported inflated amounts in their sponsorship revenue from 2012 to 2016 to make for excessive spending on big signings. Manchester City contested the allegations and the punishment at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) and won. The ban and the fine were overturned.
However, on Wednesday, January 24, Aleksander Ceferin, who spoke with Daily Telegraph, revisited the governing body's decision, insisting they were right despite the judgment of CAS.
Ceferin said, "We know we were right on charges on Manchester City for breaching the Financial Fair Play Rules and on the decision to ban them from Europe.''
Ceferin's statement came against the backdrop of another trying time for Manchester City following 115 charges by the Premier League on the club for the same allegation of breaching Financial Fair Play Rules.
Speaking ahead of Manchester City's FA Cup tie with Tottenham, Pep Guardiola issued a strong response to Ceferin, asking the European football chief to respect the due process of the law.
Guardiola added that he believed Ceferin, who is a lawyer by profession, ought to have exercised restraint and allowed the full cycle of the law to take its course on the allegations.
''As a lawyer, as he is, the president of UEFA should wait,' Guardiola added.
"He has to respect it and wait. He has a lot to do at UEFA. Lawyers should respect the procedure. We have the right to defend ourselves.''
The Premier League are reportedly ready to commence hearing on Man City's financial charges in February 2024 with the club risking relegation, fine, or ban if found guilty.