Man City boss Pep Guardiola hits back at UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin FFP comments: 'He has to respect the process'

In February 2020, City were initially banned from the Champions League for two seasons for breaking FFP rules; suspension was lifted after appeal at CAS; in Premier League case, City alleged to have broken 115 financial rules over nine seasons; City unequivocally deny the allegations

Thursday 25 January 2024 18:37, UK

Pep Guardiola has hit back at UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin over comments the European governing body was right to punish Manchester City for financial irregularities.

UEFA banned City from European competition for two years in February 2020 for breaching its Financial Fair Play rules but the ban was later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

CAS found that some of the charges against City were «not established» and others were time-barred.

Yet Ceferin is adamant his organisation was correct, telling theDaily Telegraph: «We know we were right. We wouldn't decide if we didn't think we were right.

»As a trial lawyer for 25 years, I know that, sometimes, you win a case that you are sure you will lose. And, sometimes, you lose a case when you're sure. You just simply have to respect in a serious democracy the decision of the court.

«I don't want to speak about the case in England. But I trust that the decision of our independent body was correct. I didn't enter into this decision.»

His remarks came as City await a Premier League hearing after being charged with 115 breaches of their domestic competition's profit and sustainability rules.

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City manager Guardiola feels that by speaking out now, Ceferin has not respected the ongoing process.

Guardiola said: «As the lawyer that he is, as president of UEFA,