Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has voiced strong support for the club after an independent commission found it guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period. City deny wrongdoing and plan to appeal by Friday’s deadline; Guardiola’s message matters because it publicly backs the club’s leadership and owners during a major challenge to its reputation.

Guardiola, who won 20 trophies in 10 years at City and remains a global ambassador for its ownership group, said he would stand by the club and its supporters. Former City chair David Bernstein called the verdict “beyond awful” and said the board, including the chief executive, should stand down or be suspended. Women’s head coach Andrée Jeglertz said his team’s preparations for Thursday’s Champions League match against Real Madrid were continuing as usual.