Manchester City fans have expressed devastation and sadness following the announcement that the club has been found guilty of financial breaches. An independent commission discovered that the Abu Dhabi-backed club had arranged "sham" contracts with commercial partners to artificially inflate its revenues and reduce costs by over $1.2 billion between 2009 and 2018.
The club's fans, who have been loyal for many years, are struggling to come to terms with the verdict. Mike Roberts, a retiree and City fan, described himself as "absolutely devastated" and "sad". He has been supporting the club since the 1956 FA Cup final and is unsure of what will happen next.
Other fans, such as Daniel Reed, an industrial designer, have acknowledged that the club has been "cheating". However, he emphasized that the fans will continue to support the team, regardless of the punishment. Former manager Pep Guardiola has also expressed his support for the club's owners, telling fans that "we will get through this together".
The UK's sports minister, Lisa Nandy, has warned that the ultimate sanction for the club could be severe, including expulsion from the Premier League. However, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, former mayor of Greater Manchester, has expressed concerns that the owners may walk away, highlighting the significant investment made in Manchester.
Fans of rival clubs, such as Manchester United, have expressed their hope that City will be punished with relegation from the Premier League. Paul Griffin, a battery worker, claimed that "we all knew they were cheating at the time" and that the club's financials did not add up.
Some fans, including Corey, an 18-year-old student who supports Manchester United, believe that relegation is the fairest punishment. Connor Emery, a 25-year-old retail worker who supports Liverpool, also thinks that a points deduction could lead to relegation. However, he is skeptical that the punishment will be severe, predicting that it will likely be a fine.
Former City players, including Micah Richards, have expressed their sadness and anger at the verdict. Richards described himself as "absolutely devastated" and "confused", citing a lack of information and conflicting accounts. Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane also criticized the club, saying that if he were a City player, he would discard all his medals.
Key points
- Manchester City has been found guilty of financial breaches, including artificially inflating revenues and reducing costs by over $1.2 billion.
- Fans of the club are devastated and unsure of what will happen next.
- Rival fans are calling for severe punishment, including relegation from the Premier League.
