'Heartbroken' Micah Richards slams Manchester City £900m‑£1bn verdict

Former defender 'Heartbroken' Micah Richards said he felt devastated and angry after the Premier League delivered its damning verdict on Man City, finding the club guilty of a financial scheme. The ruling, announced on 30 September 2026, threatens the 2012 title he lifted with the club.

The Premier League investigation covered the period from 2009 to 2018. It concluded that Man City engaged in a scheme reported at between £900 million and £1 billion, using sham arrangements to inflate revenue or cut costs. The aim was to avoid breaching both league and UEFA financial regulations.

Potential sanctions and appeal

City, eight‑time Premier League champions, now face severe disciplinary action that could include fines, points deductions or even expulsion from the competition. The club issued an immediate statement declaring its intention to appeal the decision. Despite the damning verdict, City remain defiant and insist the allegations will be disproved.

Richards, who lifted the 2011/12 Premier League trophy with Manchester City, described the findings as "troubling" and said he felt "absolutely devastated" when he read the Premier League’s description of the sham contracts. He added that the reports affect not only former players but also the fans who have supported the club for decades. The former England international said the situation leaves him saddened, angry and a little confused.

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He recalled a call from his former landlord, the man he shared a flat with as a teenager at the club. "He was literally in tears and asking me for information, which I don’t have," Richards said, noting that the uncertainty has been heartbreaking for supporters who have backed the club for six‑decades. Richards, who joined the academy at age fourteen, said he would "die for" the club and now feels his dream is tarnished.

Reactions from the wider football community

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane told City players he would throw his medals in the bin if he were one of them, calling the conduct "cheating" and insisting the honours should be stripped. Keane referenced Brian Clough’s famous admonition to Leeds players, saying he would be "100 per cent sticking those medals in the bin". He warned that the cheating undermines the integrity of the whole Premier League.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher expressed sympathy for both City’s squad and rival clubs, suggesting that the titles could carry an asterisk. He warned that Liverpool, who meet Man City on 11 October, may be the biggest losers, as the atmosphere surrounding the fixture will be electric. Carragher added that taking trophies back would not restore the feelings robbed from players.

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The upcoming Premier League clash on 11 October against Liverpool will be the first test for City after the verdict. Carragher believes the match could become the defining game of the season, with the stakes amplified by the cloud of the financial scandal. The result may influence the title race, especially if sanctions are imposed later in the campaign.