Guardiola backs Man City and tells fans 'we will get through this together' after club is found guilty of ALL financial charges

From the Newshound archive · first published 30 September 2026 · last updated 1 October 2026.

Pep Guardiola has come out in support of Manchester City after an independent commission ruled the club guilty on all financial charges, saying he stands behind the club "more than ever." The commission determined that City had inflated revenues by close to £900 million through bogus sponsorship arrangements and concealed payments from their Abu Dhabi ownership over a nine-year span. Guardiola posted a joint message with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak affirming his loyalty to the club, its owners and its staff.

From 2009 to 2018, City "cooked the books" by artificially inflating sponsorship income and disguising payments in order to sidestep Premier League spending rules.

The charges extend into the period from 2016, which coincides with Guardiola's arrival at the club, though no suggestion has been made that he played any part in the financial misconduct.

City have consistently denied the allegations and are widely expected to challenge both the verdict and the sanctions, which have yet to be decided by the commission.