Richards 'devastated' by Man City guilty verdicts

What the report says

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards said he was “absolutely devastated” after reading the Premier League’s guilty findings against City over alleged financial rule breaches. Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards described the language used by the league as “damning” and said the reports were upsetting not only for him as a former player, but also for long-time supporters who have followed the club through the uncertainty.

The Premier League said an independent commission found City guilty of all charges relating to breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, and guilty of almost all allegations tied to failing to co-operate with the investigation. The league said the case involved a scheme using “sham contracts” with commercial partners to hide more than £830m in funding. Manchester City deny wrongdoing and have until 2 October to appeal.

Richards, who joined City as a teenager and was part of their 2011-12 title-winning squad, said the situation was hard to process because of his long connection to the club. He also said a family host from his academy days contacted him in tears, reflecting the wider distress among supporters. Separately, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano have publicly insisted the club believes it will prove its innocence, while former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said the findings have raised wider questions about City’s achievements. In general football terms, the case matters because it could have major consequences for City’s reputation and for how recent Premier League titles are viewed.