What Pep Guardiola will do if Man City found guilty of 115 charges as ‘hell could break loose’

Pep Guardiola spoke openly about his Manchester City future as the club wait for a final verdict on the 115 charges they face from the Premier League after a two-and-a-half year process

Pep Guardiola has already made it clear he will not leave Manchester City if they are found guilty of breaching financial rules, even if they are relegated. Over two-and-a-half years have passed since City were charged with breaking the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018.

The club are still waiting to hear the outcome of the 115 charges they face from the Premier League for the alleged breach of regulations. The marathon hearing began in mid-September last year, with the anniversary of its conclusion approaching in early December.

It is now being reported that City could learn the outcome of their Premier League charges case during the upcoming November international break, which will be the third international break of the season so far. It is set to be the penultimate occasion that top flight action halts this season, with the next interval not arriving until March.

The i Paper claims a source with insider knowledge of how arbitration cases work told them legal experts are preparing for a verdict to come in mid-November. They also quote a source who claimed that votes on FFP, scheduled for later next month, could be “totally overshadowed” by the case, which could include up to 250,000 documents.

The outlet claims several figures at Premier League clubs believe a decision will happen by the end of this year at the latest, having quoted a source as saying: “It’s gone very quiet and because it’s been going on for so long it’s almost been forgotten about. But all hell could break loose when it lands.”

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Such news could have huge repercussions on the Premier League picture this season and beyond, namely City’s future and that of their manager, Guardiola. The Catalan has previously commented on what he will do if City are found guilty in the hearing, claiming he would stay with the club even if they were relegated to League One.

He signed a new two-year deal last year to extend his contract with the club until 2027. Guardiola has become City’s most successful manager since joining the Etihad side in July 2016, winning six Premier League titles and the club’s first Champions League trophy.

He said in November 2023: “At the moment we are innocent until it is proven we are guilty. I know the people want it. I know, I feel it. I will wait. Wait and see it and after the sentence has been done we will come here and explain it.

“But absolutely I will not consider my future (if) it depends on being here or being in League One. Absolutely. There is more chance to stay if we are in League One than if we were in the Champions League.”

He reaffirmed his commitment in May 2025, clarifying previous remarks about potentially taking a break from football. Guardiola said: “No, no, no. I didn’t say I’m leaving now or at the end of the season. When I finish my time here, I don’t know, in one year, two years, three years, four years, five years, six years, I will take a break. I won’t retire but I will take a break, for sure.”

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