People want Manchester City to be punished but we are innocent until proven guilty: Pep Guardiola

Despite Manchester City facing more than 100 charges of violating Premier League regulations, Pep Guardiola has claimed that he is a “big fan” of financial fair play and that clubs that infringe its rules must be punished. Guardiola also stated on Friday that the club is innocent unless proven guilty of over 100 claims of breaking Premier League financial regulations.

FFP is intended to restrain expenditure and keep clubs from getting into major financial trouble. However, some believe that this could deter any wealthy entity from investing in a club in order to elevate it to a higher level. Guardiola was asked if he agreed with FFP in light of this.

Everton received an extraordinary 10-point deduction last week for violating profitability and sustainability regulations (PSR). City leads the table by one point over Liverpool, whom they host on Saturday, and Arsenal.

“Why should I not believe (we are innocent)?” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.

“It’s the lawyers to make the defense in front of the judge. We wait and after we accept the resolutions.”

Everton’s punishment sparked outrage among followers of other teams in the league, who want City to suffer a similar penalty.

“I’m not going to say one word about Everton because I don’t know the reality of what happened. They are two completely different cases,” Guardiola said.

“I know people are saying, ‘Why don’t City go to the Conference’ (the National League and lowest division on the English football pyramid). But let’s wait. It’s two different cases, it’s not the same. One of them is longer, it’s more complicated.”

Guardiola, who led City to their first Champions League championship last season, making them the second English club to win the treble after Manchester United, was asked if he would resign if they were demoted.

“You’re questioning me like we have been punished. At the moment, we’re innocent,” the Spaniard said. “There is more chance I will stay if we are in League One than if we win the Champions League.”