Man City titles 'absolutely not' tainted - Maresca

What the report says

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has defended the club’s recent trophy haul after an independent commission found City guilty of most of the Premier League’s 115 charges over alleged financial rule breaches. Speaking before City’s match at Liverpool, Maresca said the club’s titles are “absolutely not” tainted and expressed confidence that City will succeed in its appeal.

The BBC reported that the commission’s findings relate to a series of alleged breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. City have denied wrongdoing and said the ruling contains serious errors. The club’s appeal is now underway, and Maresca said he trusts the ownership, chief executive and sporting structure, adding that his focus is on what the team can control on the pitch.

Maresca also said the squad has not been distracted by the controversy, describing the atmosphere around the team as positive ahead of the Anfield trip. He accepted the match will likely be difficult and that the crowd may be especially hostile given the wider context.

The issue matters because any final sanction could have major consequences for one of English football’s most successful recent clubs. As background, appeals against major regulatory decisions in football can take time, and the outcome may affect both reputations and future governance debates across the sport.