Man City charges LIVE: Champions League concern raised as Pep Guardiola return confirmed

Hello and welcome to Mirror Football's live blog on Thursday, October 8, where we will bring you the latest after an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of breaking Premier League rules in a strongly worded report released last week.

City have been accused of breaking financial rules between 2009-10 and 2017-18. An independent commission concluded that more than £830million of owner funding was used to inflate revenues and enable the club to comply with Premier League and UEFA regulations through a series of 'sham' arrangements.

The Etihad club, though, are adamant they have done nothing wrong, insisting they are innocent and that they have a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence to support their position as they lodged their appeal last week. However, senior figures within English football are now reportedly concerned that City could play in the Champions League next season even if they are relegated from the Premier League this season.

Jamie Carragher beleives Manchester City should face a multi-year punishment for their financial misdemeanours.

Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate with Sky Bet, Carragher said: “If the people talk about (a penalty of) 80 points or 100 points, but that’s just over one season that gets you relegated and then you come back again.

“And I think players, a few of them would leave, but I think some of them would say, ‘I could put up with that for a year’.

Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur were notified of the guilty verdict involving Manchester City last month before the rest of the league.

The four clubs all reserved their right to seek compensation back in September 2024 and because of that were given early notice of the decision.

Manchester City have been told by Gary Lineker that they could lose their four Premier League titles if an appeal is unsuccessful.

“Obviously, it looks really bad for Manchester City, and bad for the game, too,” the former England captain said.

“When they talk about the ‘Premier League conspiracy theories’, you just think to yourself, ‘Well, this is actually the last thing in the world that the Premier League would want’.

“So, I’d love to see Man City now just own it and just say, ‘OK, we got it wrong but for the good of the game, we’ll accept it and we’ll accept whatever punishment comes our way and we’ll carry on’.

Senior figures within English football are concerned that Manchester City could play in the Champions League next season even if they are relegated from the Premier League for breaching financial regulations.

That’s according to BBC Sport, who are reporting that senior figures within the game in recent days are concerned about the prospect of City qualifying for the Champions League next season.

Pep Guardiola will be back at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night to show public support for Manchester City.

Guardiola has publicly iterated his support of the club after the verdict was announced last week.

In a message to supporters, he said: "I want every single fan to know I am here; more than ever. I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran [Soriano, CEO], the players, staff, Enzo [Maresca] and you, our unique supporters. Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all."

Guardiola, who stood down as City boss at the end of last season, had planned to stay in the background to allow his successor Enzo Maresca the best chance of success.

Good morning and welcome to Mirror Football’s live coverage as Manchester City await their punishment for breaking Premier League financial rules.