Man City charges LIVE: Pep Guardiola returns as appeal and punishment timeline emerges

Man City charges LIVE: Pep Guardiola returns as appeal and punishment timeline emerges Live updates on the Manchester City Premier League charges as Andy Burnham sent a warning and Pep Guardiola set to return Hello and welcome to Mirror Football's Manchester City Premier League charges live blog on Wednesday, 14th October. Andy Burnham has been warned that the chairman of the Independent Football Regulator, David Kogan, would resign if he came under political pressure over the City charges case. Pep Guardiola is also set for a return to Etihad Stadium tonight. City's former manager is due to attend City's Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain in a show of support for his former club. Guardiola is expected to sit beside City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak in the stands at this evening's game after holding talks with him and Ferran Soriano before kick-off. Stay with us for the latest football news, updates and developments surrounding City's charges. Key Events Man City government invitation defended According to The Guardian, Manchester City were invited to take part in a government trade delegation to India. Andy Burnham's successor Bev Craig is said to have taken a club representative. The decision has been defended by Craig. She said: “If a football club has broken the rules, a football club should be punished for breaking the rules, and that is pretty clear in an independent process. “I think what can also be true at the same time though, if you ask residents in east Manchester, have they benefited from a new library, a new leisure centre, a new sixth-form college, infrastructure investment, the job opportunities that come from them being a good employment charter signee and an early adopter of the real living wage – then they will have felt that benefit.” PM on City meetings Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Manchester City's owners and directors did not raise the Premier League's charges against the club when he met with them. He said: They did not raise those issues with me. "I'm very happy, Mr Speaker, for everything to be set out in full. "It is why I asked the Greater Manchester Combined Authority [GMCA], in response to a call from the Leader of the Opposition and others, to set out a full statement of my key dealings with the owners of Manchester City Football Club. "That statement was published on Monday, and it includes the issues in the news today. "That is the position." Peter Schmeichel tells Premier League NOT to relegate Man City Peter Schmeichel has suggested four punishments for Man City but thinks Premier League relegation should not be one of them. If their appeal against breaking regulations fails, the 62-year-old wants to see them start on -25 points for the next five seasons, the owners forced to sell, a transfer ban imposed and a fine dished out. "I think, of course, you keep them in the Premier League. But for every year they’re in the Premier League, the next five years, they start on -25 points," he said on Viaplay after City's 3-0 win over Liverpool. "It's also staying as a reminder to everybody else that when you cheat in the Premier League, and if you cheat all the other clubs, it’s heavy. I think this is important: a transfer ban for five years and a big fine."And then I think the ownership should be forced to sell the club. I don’t think they’re fit to run this football club and they’re not fit to run a football club in England."Also, I think bans for everyone who has been in on this. They cannot operate in football. Take the titles away or let them keep the titles. I don't think it matters one way or the other." Man City appeal outcome timeline emerges Head of Football at the Independent Football Regulator David Kogan says a verdict on Man City's appeal is expected next year. Kogan said: “The Premier League have said that they want to get this resolved within season and actually, of course, it’s not the Premier League, it’s an independent commission that’s going to hear this, made of three retired either judges or lawyers."My understanding is there is a prescribed process, which is 12 weeks, and so people are assuming this will actually be heard by the middle or the end of January. But as I say, it’s not our process, it’s that of the Premier League’s independent commission. What I don’t think we can do is take any judgment until we’re quite clear."Obviously, City claim that they have some form of silver bullet to put off these charges and win the appeal, and we’re not there to judge whether that’s right or wrong yet, but I think we’ll know in the early part of next year." Ruben Dias: "All I can say is stick with us" The Manchester City defender has sent a message to fans ahead of their crucial Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain. Paul Scholes at odds with Wayne Rooney again as he launches angry Man City tirade Former Manchester United star Paul Scholes has doubled down on being more than happy to pick up another Premier League medal after Manchester City were found guilty of breaking the division's financial rules. The former midfielder's stance is in stark contrast to that of his United team-mate Wayne Rooney, who doesn't believe they deserve it. There is a possibility City lose their titles, though the chances of the runners-up being promoted to champions instead appears remote for the moment. But Scholes, who has 11 Premier League titles to his name, would happily add another medal to his collection. Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football, sponsored by Midnite, Scholes emphatically responded to Paddy McGuinness' assertion that he wouldn't want the title. “Why not?" said Scholes. F*****g yeah. I only played 14 times somewhere in the last six months of the season. But yeah, I would take it."We lost on goal difference that year. Do you not think the rest of our team, our teammates, the manager and the staff are working their bollocks off all year to try and win the league? And just because a team did it wrongly, cheated, that we wouldn’t want it?” Rooney previously admitted he wouldn't be comfortable accepting a winner's medal. "I have heard Rio has come out saying about getting another Premier League medal... I wouldn’t really feel comfortable accepting another Premier League medal, if I’m being honest," said Rooney on the Stick To United podcast. City appeal timeline revealed by independent regulator chair The chair of the Independent Football Regulator, David Kogan, believes it will be clarity about City's case in early 2027. Kogan telling Times Radio: The Premier League have said that they want to get this resolved within season and actually, of course, it's not the Premier League, it's an independent commission that's going to hear this, made of three retired either judges or lawyers. My understanding is there is a prescribed process, which is 12 weeks, and so people are assuming this will actually be heard by the middle or the end of January. But as I say, it's not our process, it's that of the Premier League's independent commission. What I don’t think we can do is take any judgment until we're quite clear. Obviously, City claim that they have some form of silver bullet to put off these charges and win the appeal, and we're not there to judge whether that's right or wrong yet, but I think we'll know in the early part of next year. Kemi Badenoch weighs in on Andy Burnham and City Kemi Badenoch does not believe Andy Burnham's "carefully worded answer" about City "is going to suffice" and added "it doesn't sound like that one's going away". The Prime Minister said that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority's statement covered the revelations about two dinners with Khaldoon Al Mubarak during his time as Mayor. The Leader of the Opposition's response in full to his stance on City, after mentoning him "bumbling into a row, still ongoing, about Manchester City," was: I don't think his carefully worded answer to my honourable friend is going to suffice; it doesn't sound like that one's going away. City discussions over charges denied by Andy Burnham at PMQs Jerome Mayhew, the Member of Parliament for Broadland and Fakenham, asked Andy Burnham during Prime Minister's Question: Did anyone associated with the running of Manchester City Football Club raise the charges they were facing and have now been found guilty of either with him or with any member of his team? Responding to the question, Burnham said: They did not raise those issues with me. Andy Burnham addresses City dinners revelations during PMQs Andy Burnham has said during Prime Minister's Questions that today's news about his dinners with Khaldoon Al Mubarak is covered by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority statement published on Monday. The PM said: I'm very happy for everything to be set out in full; it is why I asked the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in response to a call from the leader of the opposition and others, to set out a full statement of my key dealings with the owners of Manchester City Football Club. That statement was published on Monday and includes the issues in the news today; that is the position. Downing Street defends Andy Burnham dinners Downing Street have defended Andy Burnham having to dinners with Khaldoon Al Mubarak by saying they were not separate meetings and instead hospitality received at matches, according to the BBC. A No 10 Downing Street spokesperson previously clarified comments Burnham made about City, saying: As the Prime Minister made clear, the initial judgement is serious and there can't be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules. He also stressed that it is an ongoing independent process. It is essential that it is allowed to run its course and the outcome respected. If wrongdoing is established, those responsible should face the appropriate consequences. Shadow sports minister links £24.5m loan to Burnham dinner Louie French, the Member of Parliament for Old Bexley & Sidcup in Westminster and Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, has alleged that Andy Burnham oversaw a £24.5m taxpayer loan as the Mayor of Greater Manchester shortly after one of the dinners with Khaldoon Al Mubarak at the Etihad Stadium during a Manchester City match that have resurfaced. Andy Burnham promised the country and House of Commons full transparency on his dealings with Manchester City. This was essential after his inappropriate intervention into football. Now we learn Burnham oversaw a £24.5m taxpayer loan shortly after one of these dinners. Andy Burnham accused of being 'compromised' by City scandal Robert Jenrick, Member of Parliament (MP) for Newark and the Reform UK Treasury Spokesperson, claims the City scandal compromises Andy Burnham in response to the details of a deleted register of interests being revealed that include two meetings with the club's chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, in 2017 and 2018 at Etihad Stadium during his first term as the mayor of Greater Manchester. This whole saga stinks. Burnham appears to have lied about his extensive links to Manchester City's owners. No wonder he was so desperate to leap to their defence. Fans deserve better than a Prime Minister compromised by this scandal. City 'could have already received their punishment' Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has suggested that City may have already recieved their punishment, telling talkSPORT: Well, for all we know, City could have received the punishment, and everybody signed a non-disclosure agreement, and they are appealing the original verdict of guilt at the same time as knowing what the punishment could be; there’s so much silence.We did see the revelations a couple of weeks ago that four clubs had been told in advance of the other clubs in the Premier League the verdict, so the degree of secrecy that’s taking place here could very well be significant. Andy Burnham accused of 'concealing' City links Andy Burnham had dinner with City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak at Etihad Stadium twice while Manchester mayor, according to The Sun. Those meetings are reportedly detailed in a register of interests that Burnham allegedly signed on December 7 2020, which has since been removed from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority's website. He is said to have accepted almost £1,200 in freebies funded by City. Burnham said on The Rest is Politics podcast: "I only had one significant meeting, actually, and that was in 2021." The two dinners with Al Mubarak at Etihad Stadium are dated August 2017 and April 2018. PSG would not welcome City punishment Abu Dhabi and City being weakened by any sanctions from their Premier League charges would not be welcomed by Paris Saint-Germain and Qatar, according to Raphaël Le Magoariec, who teaches at the University of Tours with a specialism in Gulf countries and their sport policies, Le Magoariec, speaking to our colleagues at the Manchester Evening News, has said: Strategic interest outweighs rivalry here. A weakened City would not be a Qatari victory. It would signal that European institutions can, in the end, sanction a Gulf state’s flagship club, and that is a precedent no Gulf owner wants to see established. Andy Burnham warning sent Independent Football Regulator chairman David Kogan says he will resign in response to any political pressure over the City charges case. Our independence is absolute, and my independence personally is absolute. I made it very clear last year that if we have any form of Government interference in the way we operate, it is going to result in me resigning from this role, and I stand by that completely.I should say, to be crystal clear, we’ve come under absolutely no political pressure on this or any other topic, and I don’t expect to in the future. Ministers know full well that we are going to act completely independently. Pep Guardiola set to return Manchester City are playing their first match at Etihad Stadium tonight since being found guilty by an independent commission of breaching the Premier League's financial rules. Paris Saint-Germain are their opponents in the Champions League, and Pep Guardiola is set to be in attendance for the first time since leaving at the end of last season. Andy Burnham is in the spotlight over his visits to the Etihad Stadium after reportedly attending two dinners with City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak during his first term as the mayor of Greater Manchester. Follow along throughout the day for all the latest updates...