Carrick urges swift resolution as City’s £900m breach looms

Man Utd head coach Michael Carrick told reporters on 9 October that Manchester City’s guilty verdict has hit him personally and he wants the matter resolved as quickly as possible, after the Premier League confirmed on 30 September the club breached financial rules.

Premier League ruling

On 30 September the Premier League announced that Manchester City had been found guilty on every charge relating to breaches of its financial regulations between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons. The investigation revealed the club artificially inflated revenue by more than £900 million through so‑called ‘sham’ sponsorship deals. Man City have denied any wrongdoing and lodged an appeal on 1 October, insisting they are innocent and possess a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence.

Reactions across the league

Carrick, who featured in the United side that finished second to City in 2011/12 and again in 2017/18, said the verdict could affect his own Premier League medal prospects if the Blues are stripped of their titles. “It’s thrown up a lot of questions,” he said, adding that the situation has affected him personally and that speed is essential to clear the issue for everyone. He urged the authorities to resolve the matter swiftly so that clubs and players can move on.

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When asked whether he would accept an additional medal, Carrick replied that he would hold off until the process is finalised. “The moment we strive for to win and achieve is what matters, not the piece of metal after the fact,” he explained, stressing that a medal does not recreate the feeling of a genuine victory. He said any future award would be considered only after the sanctions are settled.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the need to respect the process, saying “we have to be patient while the appeal is ongoing.” Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola described the uncertainty as “not good for anyone” but urged patience as well. Chelsea’s Xabi Alonso echoed the sentiment, urging respect for the independent panel’s final decision before drawing conclusions.

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The comments were recorded in a Manchester United press conference and published by Sport senior writer Kieran King at 13:44 on 9 October 2026, with three images viewable in the original release. Add to preferred sources Comments Sport Kieran King Senior Sports Writer 13:44, 09 Oct 2026, 09 Oct 2026 View 3 Images. The report highlights the ongoing debate across the Premier League clubs.