The Premier League have confirmed that they are investigating Manchester City over alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play rules.
City manager Pep Guardiola had urged Uefa earlier on Friday not to drag out its newest investigation into City.
The European governing body announced on Thursday it had launched a probe following a series of fresh allegations about the Premier League champions in the media.
The claims include allegations that some of City’s sponsorship deals were artificially inflated and that the club were deceitful in their accounting procedures.
City have denied the claims and manager Guardiola expressed his confidence in the club when questioned about the matter at his latest press conference.
1/10 Manchester City’s Premier League title race run-in
Manchester City and Liverpool are contesting one of the tightest title races of recent years this season. Here is how it will play out for City.
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2/10 Match 30: Watford (H) – Saturday March 9, 5:30pm
City have managed 11 goals in their last three matches against Javi Gracia’s men, but it took two goals in 11 minutes in December to secure victory at Vicarage Road.
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3/10 Match 31: Manchester United (A) – Saturday March 16, 12:30pm
Arguably City’s toughest fixture of the run-in against a rejuvenated Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Guardiola will hope his team assert similar dominance that saw them run out 3-1 winners against the Red Devils in November at the Etihad.
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4/10 Match 32: Fulham (A) – Saturday 30 March, 12:30pm
Fulham conceded four on City’s last visit to Craven Cottage and Pep Guardiola will hope to see his side run rampant against one of the league’s relegation candidates.
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5/10 Match 33: Cardiff City (H) – Saturday April 6, 3pm
Handing out a 5-0 drubbing to the Bluebirds at the Cardiff City Stadium in September, Guardiola will be confident of completing a double over the visitors.
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6/10 Match 34: Crystal Palace (A) – Saturday April 13, 3pm
Guardiola will no doubt be wary of Roy Hodgson’s men after they shocked City with a 3-2 win at the Etihad during the festive period, a game which will be remembered for Andros Townsend’s stunning volley.
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7/10 Match 35: Tottenham Hotspur (H) – Saturday April 20, 3pm
City have an excellent recent record against Spurs, winning all three of their previous league meetings, but the visitors hold a persistent threat and did take all three points at the Etihad on Valentine’s Day in 2016.
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8/10 Match 36: Burnley (A) – Saturday April 27, 3pm
An 82nd minute equaliser from Johann Gudmundsson denied City all three points at Turf Moor last season, but Burnley’s inconsistent form at home this season could result in a more comfortable afternoon in Lancashire for City.
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9/10 Match 37: Leicester City (H) – Saturday May 4, 3pm
A side City have so far failed to beat in 90 minutes this season in two meetings, Claude Puel’s men were knocked out on penalties by the champions in the EFL Cup quarter-finals but avenged their defeat a week later by beating City 2-1 in the league on Boxing Day.
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10/10 Match 38: Brighton & Hove Albion (A) – Saturday May 12, 3pm
City will attempt to lift back-to-back titles for the first time in their history when they make the trip to the south coast to a ground where they triumphed last season thanks to two goals in the final twenty minutes.
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1/10 Manchester City’s Premier League title race run-in
Manchester City and Liverpool are contesting one of the tightest title races of recent years this season. Here is how it will play out for City.
Getty Images
2/10 Match 30: Watford (H) – Saturday March 9, 5:30pm
City have managed 11 goals in their last three matches against Javi Gracia’s men, but it took two goals in 11 minutes in December to secure victory at Vicarage Road.
Getty Images
3/10 Match 31: Manchester United (A) – Saturday March 16, 12:30pm
Arguably City’s toughest fixture of the run-in against a rejuvenated Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Guardiola will hope his team assert similar dominance that saw them run out 3-1 winners against the Red Devils in November at the Etihad.
Getty Images
4/10 Match 32: Fulham (A) – Saturday 30 March, 12:30pm
Fulham conceded four on City’s last visit to Craven Cottage and Pep Guardiola will hope to see his side run rampant against one of the league’s relegation candidates.
Getty Images
5/10 Match 33: Cardiff City (H) – Saturday April 6, 3pm
Handing out a 5-0 drubbing to the Bluebirds at the Cardiff City Stadium in September, Guardiola will be confident of completing a double over the visitors.
Getty Images
6/10 Match 34: Crystal Palace (A) – Saturday April 13, 3pm
Guardiola will no doubt be wary of Roy Hodgson’s men after they shocked City with a 3-2 win at the Etihad during the festive period, a game which will be remembered for Andros Townsend’s stunning volley.
Getty Images
7/10 Match 35: Tottenham Hotspur (H) – Saturday April 20, 3pm
City have an excellent recent record against Spurs, winning all three of their previous league meetings, but the visitors hold a persistent threat and did take all three points at the Etihad on Valentine’s Day in 2016.
Getty Images
8/10 Match 36: Burnley (A) – Saturday April 27, 3pm
An 82nd minute equaliser from Johann Gudmundsson denied City all three points at Turf Moor last season, but Burnley’s inconsistent form at home this season could result in a more comfortable afternoon in Lancashire for City.
Getty Images
9/10 Match 37: Leicester City (H) – Saturday May 4, 3pm
A side City have so far failed to beat in 90 minutes this season in two meetings, Claude Puel’s men were knocked out on penalties by the champions in the EFL Cup quarter-finals but avenged their defeat a week later by beating City 2-1 in the league on Boxing Day.
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10/10 Match 38: Brighton & Hove Albion (A) – Saturday May 12, 3pm
City will attempt to lift back-to-back titles for the first time in their history when they make the trip to the south coast to a ground where they triumphed last season thanks to two goals in the final twenty minutes.
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Guardiola said: “I think the club made their statement yesterday, I can’t add more than that.
“The club is open, so hopefully it can finish as soon as possible and Uefa can decide what it sees.
“I said last season I trust a lot what the club has done because I know them. Hopefully they can solve it as soon as possible.”
Asked further if he was concerned the matter could taint his legacy at the club, Guardiola said: “No, absolutely not.”
PA
