Guardiola backs Manchester City as club plans appeal against financial-rule findings

Pep Guardiola has publicly backed Manchester City as the club prepares to challenge an independent commission’s findings that it breached Premier League financial rules.

In a report published on 30 September 2026, the Guardian said City’s former manager used social media to express support for the club’s owners, executives, players and supporters. His intervention followed confirmation of the commission’s decision on 29 September 2026.

The Premier League said the commission found City guilty of all charges concerning serious financial-rule breaches over nine seasons and the majority of charges concerning failure to cooperate with its investigation. These are findings in a football disciplinary proceeding.

City disputes the decision and says it will pursue the available appeal routes. In its official response, the club argued that the commission had made material errors of law, principle and fact. The Guardian separately reported that chief executive Ferran Soriano defended the club’s evidence in a video to staff and rejected the allegations about owner funding passing through sponsors.

The Guardian reported that sanctions would be considered at a further commission hearing. The findings therefore do not, by themselves, establish a points deduction, relegation or another specific sporting penalty.

Guardiola’s support also contrasted with criticism from former City chairman David Bernstein, who told the Guardian that the current directors should stand down. The immediate next steps are the club’s appeal process and consideration of sanctions.