Rodri defends Manchester City’s on‑field merit after guilty verdict

In a quiet interview on Friday evening, Rodri – the 30‑year‑old former Manchester City midfielder who left for Barcelona last summer – broke his silence after the club were found guilty of breaching multiple Premier League financial rules, with an independent panel convicting them on all but one of the 115 charges.

Verdict details and charge breakdown

The panel’s decision, released on Friday, confirmed that City were guilty on every charge except a single allegation out of the Premier League’s 115 accusations. The breaches span a nine‑year period from 2009 to 2018 and include 54 counts of inaccurate financial information, 14 for faulty player and manager compensation reports, five for breaching UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules, seven for violating the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability regulations between 2015 and 2018, and 35 for failing to cooperate with league investigations between 2018 and 2023. The club were initially charged in February 2023 for alleged breaches over the 2009‑2018 period.

Rodri, who collected twelve major trophies – four Premier League titles among them – during his City spell, insisted the club’s on‑field success was earned, not bought. He said the hierarchy gave him full reassurance that no Premier League rules had been broken, and he believes the accolades were deserved.

When asked about the verdict, Rodri said: “We faced a similar judicial process in 2020, were initially found guilty but believed in the club’s innocence and were eventually acquitted. I trust the justice system and I trust the club’s innocence. The hard work of everyone from the owners to the daily staff cannot be taken away by a fine.” He added that the collective effort of players, staff and owners cannot be erased by any sanction.

Possible sanctions and precedents

The Premier League has yet to announce sanctions, but City could face a points deduction, a financial penalty or even expulsion from the top flight. In 2024 Everton lost six points, later two more, for breaching the Profitability and Sustainability Rules, while Nottingham Forest were docked four points for a similar breach. UEFA previously banned City from European competition for two seasons in 2020; the Court of Arbitration for Sport later overturned the ban and reduced a €30 million (£25 million) fine to €10 million (£8.9 million).

City have denied any wrongdoing and are expected to appeal the verdict, maintaining that the accusations do not reflect the club’s operations.

Image credit and club hierarchy

The story is illustrated by an Action Images photograph via Reuters showing Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak alongside Pep Guardiola in 2024, underscoring the senior figures Rodri referred to when he spoke of the club’s structure and confidence in its innocence.

The guilty verdict adds another chapter to Manchester City’s ongoing legal battles over financial compliance, reminding that off‑field scrutiny can shadow even the most successful eras on the pitch.