It has been nearly 18 months since the independent commission's hearing into the case against Manchester City ended, and there is still no sign of an outcome. Pep Guardiola is set to end his stunning spell as Manchester City boss at the end of the season, and within minutes of the news breaking, social media was awash with references to the 115 charges the club has faced for over three years. With doctored photographs and videos alongside, the suggestion from rival supporters was that Guardiola was jumping ship before a verdict and any punishment was announced.
Considering Guardiola, like everyone else, could not have known how long it would take for the hearing to take place and for its findings to be released, it can be safely said that his impending departure has nothing to do with the Premier League charges. However, Guardiola's exit after a decade at the Etihad does bring those charges back into focus.
Unprecedented Delay
For a start, it highlights how ridiculously long the delay has become. Since the 12-week hearing concluded in December 2024, with the charges having been brought in February 2023, City have spent over £400 million on new players. The club has won two trophies. Since the charges were laid, City have won a Treble and Guardiola has won a sixth Premier League title. Since the charges were laid, City have signed 26 players. There have been numerous new contracts signed, not least one by Erling Haaland, who committed himself to the club until 2034. Clearly, he was not overly concerned about any impending legal doom.
Managerial Succession
Presumably, neither is Enzo Maresca. It seems highly unlikely, in fact almost unthinkable, that Maresca would not want to know the club's thoughts on the 115 charges when he had talks about taking over from Guardiola. It seems unlikely he would not want reassurances. Enzo Maresca will succeed Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager.
The charges are back in focus because there will be discussion on how they affect Guardiola's legacy when a verdict is eventually reached. The specifics of that discussion will not be known until verdicts are indeed reached. But after this bizarrely long drawn-out process, can anyone really see a punishment involving Premier League titles being taken away? No. And even if City are faced with a financial punishment, or a points deduction, would it seriously taint Guardiola's legacy? No.
Legacy Untarnished
The crimes would belong to executives in the offices of City power. And even if those crimes were deemed to have given City an advantage on the field, the overarching feeling would still be that Guardiola's genius was the main reason for the remarkable period of success. Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo were the latest of a raft of players to sign for Manchester City since the 115 charges were laid.
