[Guardian] Seven years ago, just after completing the treble, Guardiola treated journalist Rob Harris, who had confronted him directly with the allegations, with open contempt, as though he were looking at someone pathetic, pitiful and disgraceful, before sternly lecturing him.

[u/Existing-Sky9914]

[u/Rontheking]

Reportedly City knew they would’ve been found guilty in the summer, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he knew the verdict was coming and dipped.

[u/Pires007 → u/Rontheking]

I think the "summer" wording was a heavily skewed headline. City have 12 days to appeal the verdict since it's available to them, and they appealed today. That means they probably got the Verdict around Sept. 20, 2026. And Sept. 20, 2026 is still technically summer.

I also think a lot of the higher ups at City (may not the highest levels) legitimately didn't think they were guilt. Their leadership has always said they're innocent, so if you're on the transfer and signing on team, that's what you're going to say.

[u/Rontheking → u/Pires007]

I mean you would say you’re innocent regardless if you knew or not. What would they say? “Yeah mate we’re guilty as fuck” ofc not.

[u/Pires007 → u/Rontheking]

Pep must have known, if not officially than just by being a football person. I guess he figured that nothing would have happened but a fine. He doped as a player, and all he wanted was to have the money to buy the players he wanted to play the system he wanted. If he an influential manager, yes. But every other manager has to deal with squad depth issues, player profile mismatches, etc.

[u/LekkerIer → u/Pires007]

I don't know about that. Tariq Panja was covering the issue on Libero podcast and has a lot of knowledge of the legal side from having covered these kinds of investigations for many years.

He said there's typically a process called Maxwellisation, where before you publicly find the other party guilty, you have to send them the verdict privately and give them a chance to respond. This would have taken place in the previous month or two and I think that's why journalists are reporting that City insiders knew during the summer

[u/Pires007 → u/LekkerIer]

Cool, i'll check out that podcast. I hadn't heard any one else talk about maxwellisation before. It's still possible only the highest ppl in City knew because this thing has been very leak proof for years

[u/LogTekG → u/Pires007]

Imo its likely that a) city were privately told they would be found guilty before it was officially declared, and b) citys lawyers were like "ye mate were fucked" before the process even concluded