Metro Sport
Pep Guardiola celebrated with his coaching staff and Manchester City’s hierarchy after the club’s Champions League ban was overturned on Monday.
City’s two-season suspension from all UEFA competitions has been lifted, while their £25 million fine has been reduced to £8.9m.
City were initially banned from all UEFA competitions for ‘serious breaches’ of Financial Fair Play rules.
The club were accused of inflating income generated by sponsorship deals in order to meet FFP rules, which require clubs to break even.
But following confirmation that the decision has been overturned, Guardiola posed for a selfie with Manuel Estiarte, a member of his coaching staff, and City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain.
The picture, which was posted on Manuel Estiarte’s Instagram account, was subsequently deleted.
Speaking before the decision was confirmed on Monday morning, Guardiola claimed he was confident that City’s suspension would be overturned.
‘I’m confident in the club, I know the defence and their argument,’ he said after City’s 5-0 victory over Brighton.
‘It was issued a long time ago, maybe 90 per cent of the people on the pitch and backroom staff were not there [at the club], but we will see and respect the decisions.
‘I feel fully confident in what the club has done and allowed us to play in the Champions League next season.’
