Micah Richards 'devastated' by Man City guilty verdicts
Former Manchester City player Micah Richards expresses deep heartbreak after an independent commission found the club guilty of financial breaches.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Independent commission finds Man City arranged sham contracts to disguise over £830m in funding
- The club is found guilty of breaching financial rules across seasons from 2009-10 to 2017-18
- Micah Richards admits the news and the impact on loyal fans is completely devastating
- Manchester City continues to deny all wrongdoing with an appeal deadline set for October 2
The football world has been rocked once again after an independent commission concluded that Manchester City arranged sham contracts with various commercial partners as part of a scheme to disguise secret funding totaling more than £830 million. The Premier League confirmed that the club has been found guilty of all charges related to financial rule breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, alongside almost all allegations concerning a failure to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.
While the club strongly maintains its innocence and continues to deny any wrongdoing with an appeal deadline fast approaching on October 2, the severe nature of the findings has deeply distressed those connected to the institution. Micah Richards, who was part of the squad that triumphed in the 2011-12 Premier League campaign and spent his career at the club since the age of 14, shared his profound sadness regarding the scandal.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
"I was at that club since I was 14 years old, I would die for that club. I achieved my dream at Manchester City, but then to hear these reports, and not only me as an ex-player, but the fans, what they have to go through, absolutely devastating."
Micah Richards
Throughout that crucial nine-year span, the Sky Blues captured the Premier League title on three separate occasions, with Richards featuring prominently during their 2011-12 title-winning run. They secured a second league championship during the 2013-14 season, overtaking Liverpool in the closing stages to finish two points clear at the top—marking the closest former teammate Steven Gerrard ever came to lifting the Premier League trophy during his long career.
This ongoing legal battle involving Manchester City stands as one of the most comprehensive financial investigations in Premier League history. The overarching purpose of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) is to maintain competitive economic balance among clubs. Uncovering massive hidden financial injections not only challenges the validity of historical achievements but also triggers widespread debates regarding retroactive trophy stripping and fairness toward rival teams during those specific eras.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who retired in 2013, offered his perspective via Sky Sports News, noting that the scandal casts a permanent shadow over the careers of the players who competed honestly during that era and suggesting that recognition of those past titles should be reconsidered.
"Those players will never get that feeling and it was robbed by Man City."
Jamie Carragher
Source: BBC Sport
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