'They chose to cheat': City found guilty of 114 charges as Keane, Wright and Bernstein react and PM urges calm
An independent panel found City breached Premier League rules 114 times over nine years. The club plan to appeal but any movement is months away. Roy Keane says "they have to take their medicine." PM Andy Burnham urged fans not to "jump to conclusions."
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Manchester City have been found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules 114 times over a nine-year period, with the club now facing a nervous wait for punishment.
An independent panel reached the verdict on Friday, finding the club breached rules between 2009 and 2018. They were cleared of just one of the original 115 charges. City, who have always denied wrongdoing, were originally charged in 2023.
The club released a statement and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak also addressed supporters directly. City are expected to appeal, but the MEN understands any movement on that process will not take place for months, prolonging an already drawn-out saga.
Crucially, City cannot take this case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the body that overturned their Champions League ban from UEFA in 2020. Any verdict will be final. The Premier League also have the opportunity to appeal the one charge they did not win.
What has the reaction been?
Roy Keane told ITV: "It was the choice of the club. They chose to cheat, and whatever they have won over the last few years, they deserve to be punished. It was kind of a shock really to be found guilty of 114 of the charges."
Ian Wright said: "I'm glad we finally got there."
Former City chairman David Bernstein said: "To see all this tarnished in this way is very sad. I feel particularly bad for the wonderful supporters of the club who've stayed with the club through thick and thin."
He added: "The appeal process cannot go on for year after year. I think that would be a disaster. Not just for this particular case but for English football generally."
Harry Kane said the news had been discussed in the England camp but added: "When we're with England, we put club football to one side."
What did the PM say?
Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged fans not to "jump to conclusions" and insisted on seeing the full report from the independent commission before commenting further.
What punishment could City face?
The range of sanctions runs from fines to points deductions to expulsion from the Premier League. No action is expected immediately. The punishment will not be determined until the appeal process is concluded, which could take months or longer.
Which charge were City cleared of?
City were found not guilty of one of the 115 charges. The specific charge has not been publicly confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What charges were Manchester City facing?
- The club was charged with 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules covering a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018. Reports suggest they have been found guilty of 114 of them.
- Can Manchester City appeal the decision?
- Yes, the club is expected to appeal the independent panel's verdict, though Premier League rules prevent them from taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
- What has the club said about the verdict?
- Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak released a letter to fans maintaining the club's innocence and expressing confidence in their ongoing legal position, though he noted strict confidentiality limits what he can say.