Micah Richards devastated as Man City found guilty
Micah Richards says he felt "absolutely devastated" after reading the Premier League's damning guilty verdict on Manchester City's financial charges. An independent commission found City arranged "sham contracts" to disguise secret funding of more than £830m between 2009-10 and 2017-18. The club denies wrongdoing and plans to appeal.
Key Takeaways
- City were found guilty of all charges linked to financial-rules breaches from 2009-10 to 2017-18, and of most failure-to-co-operate charges.
- Micah Richards called the findings "damning" and said lifelong fans are heartbroken by the uncertainty.
- Roy Keane said City players should "throw" their medals "in the bin" because of "cheating."
- Analysts expect heavy sporting and financial sanctions after any appeal; City has until 2 October to lodge one.
What did the Premier League find Man City guilty of?
According to the BBC, an independent commission concluded Manchester City arranged "sham contracts" with commercial partners as part of a scheme to disguise secret funding of more than £830m.
The league confirmed City were guilty of all charges related to breaches of financial rules between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, and of all but one charge relating to failure to co-operate with the investigation. The Guardian reported the club boosted income by more than £900m through those arrangements and won eight trophies, including three Premier League titles, in the period under review.
City continue to deny any wrongdoing. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said the club remains confident of proving its innocence, while chief executive Ferran Soriano told staff and players that "irrefutable evidence" had been "ignored" by the commission.
Why is Micah Richards so devastated by the verdict?
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, the former City defender—and 2011-12 title winner—said seeing the words "sham contracts" left him "absolutely devastated." Richards joined the club at 14 and said he "would die for that club."
He described a phone call from the long-term supporter who once housed him in digs as a youth player: the fan was "literally in tears," asking for answers Richards did not have. "That's someone who's supported the club for 60-odd years and the uncertainty around it is just heartbreaking," he said, adding he feels "saddened," "angry," and "a little bit confused" given City's competing narrative.
For wider coverage of contested cases and contested narratives, see BlasterPost's True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries hub.
Will there be a hefty financial penalty—and what else could follow?
Punishment has not yet been handed down. Former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow told BBC Radio 5 Live he expects a three-part sanction including "significant points reductions" and favours "one, massive fine," with other clubs likely to seek compensation. He also said titles would "probably" be stripped if the guilty verdict stands, and that a separate sanction hearing may wait while City appeal—an appeal process meant to last about four months.
Roy Keane, speaking on ITV during England's Nations League coverage, said if he were a City player he would be "100% sticking those medals in the bin," arguing they "won it on the pitch because cheating was going on." Jamie Carragher said hierarchy messaging amounts to "gaslighting" and that titles "should be taken off their list," arguing rivals—especially Liverpool—were robbed of trophy moments.
City have until 2 October to submit an appeal. Until that process and any sanction hearing conclude, the scale of any financial penalty and sporting punishment remains the central unanswered question for fans and rival clubs.