Ian Wright urges unprecedented sanction for Man City

Ian Wright has called for an unprecedented punishment for Man City after the Premier League released a statement detailing the club’s financial breaches. Speaking on ITV Sport, the former England striker said the verdict marks a massive day for the league. The comments were posted on 29 Sep 2026.

Charges and Findings

The Premier League said City had been found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges brought against them, with the alleged breaches dating from 2009 to 2018. The independent commission concluded the club violated serious financial rules over a nine‑season period. Mark Wakefield of Sport Central reported the details.

Financial Impact and Reactions

In its statement the league outlined four areas that justified the guilty verdict, including the use of ‘sham contracts’ with several commercial partners. The article includes a View Image tag accompanying the league’s statement. The schemes allegedly enabled City to inflate revenue and cut costs by more than £900m, a figure cited by the PA Archive.

‘It’s cheating on an industrial scale,’ Wright told ITV Sport. ‘It’s quite surreal seeing it written down like that. Unprecedented punishment is required here.’ He added that the case was a massive day for the Premier League and that it had taken on a whole country.

Premier League clubs push for multi‑year sanctions on Man City

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane, appearing alongside Wright, called the verdict ‘bittersweet’. ‘It’s very damaging for the Premier League,’ Keane said, noting the league’s global brand and the disappointment of seeing Manchester City caught cheating. He warned the punishment could affect players involved and the upcoming clash with Liverpool.

City’s Response and Appeal

Manchester City issued its own statement on Tuesday evening, describing itself as ‘disappointed and surprised’ by the commission’s opinion. The club maintained its innocence, asserting that a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence supports its position. City said it will pursue every appeal avenue, with a deadline of Friday 2 October to lodge an appeal.

Wright warned the saga is likely to become ‘very messy’ and highly litigious. The Premier League’s process remains ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed, meaning the final outcome could shape future regulatory scrutiny across English football.