MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he is pleased that the club’s long-awaited hearing into 115 charges brought by the Premier League is set to start on Monday.
City face 80 breaches of financial rules between 2009 and 2018, plus a further 35 of failing to cooperate with a Premier League investigation.
The English champions stand accused of failing to provide accurate financial information between 2009 and 2018, including revenue from sponsors and salary details of managers and players.
City have vehemently denied any wrongdoing and Guardiola has backed his superiors when pressed about the charges in the past.
“Start soon, and hopefully finish soon,” Guardiola said of the hearing at his pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of Brentford’s trip to the Etihad. “I am looking forward to the decision.
“I’m happy it’s starting on Monday. I know there will be more rumors, new specialists about the sentences.
“We’re going to see. I know what people are looking forward to, what they expect. I know what I read for many, many years. Everybody is innocent until guilt is proven. So we’ll see.”
If found guilty on some or all of the charges, City face a severe points deduction and possibly even expulsion from the Premier League.
The hearing is set to last at least two months, with a decision not expected until 2025.
The Premier League brought the charges in February 2023 but there has been a lengthy wait for the case to proceed before an independent commission.
In the meantime, City have lifted two more Premier League titles and the club’s first ever Champions League last year.
Since a 2008 takeover from Sheikh Mansour, a member of the United Arab Emirates royal family, City have been transformed into the dominant force in English football.
They have won eight of the last 13 Premier League titles, including a record four consecutive league crowns in the past four seasons.
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Guardiola ‘happy’ Man City hearing finally set to start
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Guardiola ‘happy’ Man City hearing finally set to start
- City face 80 breaches of financial rules between 2009 and 2018, plus a further 35 of failing to cooperate with a Premier League investigation
- “Start soon, and hopefully finish soon,” Guardiola said of the hearing at his pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of Brentford’s trip to the Etihad
Tanzania, Tunisia join Nigeria in Africa Cup last 16 with draw keeping Angola out
RABAT: Tanzania and Tunisia grabbed the last available places in the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday by playing out a 1-1 draw that eliminated Angola.
Feisal Salum’s goal for Tanzania, which canceled out Ismaël Gharbi’s penalty, sent the Taifa Stars to the last 16 as one of the six groups’ best third-place finishers.
Angola, which finished third in Group B, had been hoping for a favor from Tunisia to beat Tanzania and another from Nigeria, which complied by defeating Uganda 3-1.
But Tanzania’s goal proved the difference. Both Tanzania and Angola finished with two points and a goal difference of -1. Salum’s goal meant the Taifa Stars had scored more in the group stage (Tanzania’s three goals vs. Angola’s two), meaning they go through to the next round.
“I hope this will be a reminder to these players and the next generation of players on the potential of Tanzanian football,” Taifa Stars coach Miguel Gamondi said.
Tunisia advances as Group C runner-up, but it wasn’t enough to appease its fans, who whistled the team after supporting it in the rain in Rabat.
“We may not have played the best way possible, but we are very happy to have qualified,” Tunisia coach Sami Trabelsi said.
The game started with intensity and desperation usually only seen in the final minutes with the Carthage Eagles besieging the Tanzanian goal.
Gharbi rattled the left post and tried an audacious shot from near the halfway line, while tackles went flying from both sides.
Tunisia got a break when Ibrahim Hamad was penalized after a VAR check for dragging back Hazem Mastouri. Gharbi converted the penalty in the 43rd.
Salum replied after the break with a low shot that skidded along the wet grass inside the left post.
Three goalkeepers for Uganda
With his team already assured of top spot in the group, Nigeria coach Eric Chelle opted to rest many of his regulars including Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Bright Osayi-Samuel. Victor Osimhen played from the start.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru crossed for Paul Onuachu to score with a simple finish in the 28th, and Uganda’s slim hopes were effectively ended early in the second half. Goalkeeper Denis Onyango was unable to resume after the break, and his replacement Salim Magoola was sent off in the 50th for handling the ball outside the penalty area. Magoola couldn’t resist stopping a shot from Osimhen.
Uganda’s third-choice goalkeeper Nafian Alionzi soon conceded when Raphael Onyedika shot the ball between his legs for 2-0 in the 62nd, five minutes before Onyedika got another goal.
Rogers Mato restored some Ugandan pride in the 75th with a fine chip over Francis Uzoho in the Nigeria goal.
Later Tuesday, Senegal played Benin and Congo faced Botswana to decide their positions in Group D.
Senegal, Congo and Benin are all sure of progress.
Feisal Salum’s goal for Tanzania, which canceled out Ismaël Gharbi’s penalty, sent the Taifa Stars to the last 16 as one of the six groups’ best third-place finishers.
Angola, which finished third in Group B, had been hoping for a favor from Tunisia to beat Tanzania and another from Nigeria, which complied by defeating Uganda 3-1.
But Tanzania’s goal proved the difference. Both Tanzania and Angola finished with two points and a goal difference of -1. Salum’s goal meant the Taifa Stars had scored more in the group stage (Tanzania’s three goals vs. Angola’s two), meaning they go through to the next round.
“I hope this will be a reminder to these players and the next generation of players on the potential of Tanzanian football,” Taifa Stars coach Miguel Gamondi said.
Tunisia advances as Group C runner-up, but it wasn’t enough to appease its fans, who whistled the team after supporting it in the rain in Rabat.
“We may not have played the best way possible, but we are very happy to have qualified,” Tunisia coach Sami Trabelsi said.
The game started with intensity and desperation usually only seen in the final minutes with the Carthage Eagles besieging the Tanzanian goal.
Gharbi rattled the left post and tried an audacious shot from near the halfway line, while tackles went flying from both sides.
Tunisia got a break when Ibrahim Hamad was penalized after a VAR check for dragging back Hazem Mastouri. Gharbi converted the penalty in the 43rd.
Salum replied after the break with a low shot that skidded along the wet grass inside the left post.
Three goalkeepers for Uganda
With his team already assured of top spot in the group, Nigeria coach Eric Chelle opted to rest many of his regulars including Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Bright Osayi-Samuel. Victor Osimhen played from the start.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru crossed for Paul Onuachu to score with a simple finish in the 28th, and Uganda’s slim hopes were effectively ended early in the second half. Goalkeeper Denis Onyango was unable to resume after the break, and his replacement Salim Magoola was sent off in the 50th for handling the ball outside the penalty area. Magoola couldn’t resist stopping a shot from Osimhen.
Uganda’s third-choice goalkeeper Nafian Alionzi soon conceded when Raphael Onyedika shot the ball between his legs for 2-0 in the 62nd, five minutes before Onyedika got another goal.
Rogers Mato restored some Ugandan pride in the 75th with a fine chip over Francis Uzoho in the Nigeria goal.
Later Tuesday, Senegal played Benin and Congo faced Botswana to decide their positions in Group D.
Senegal, Congo and Benin are all sure of progress.
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