Micah Richards breaks silence on Man City being found guilty on 114 charges with heart-breaking admission
Micah Richards has finally broken his silence after Man City were found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules between 2008/09 and 2017/18.
News broke on Friday (September 25) that City had been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges set against them by the Premier League after going before an independent commission.
The Premier League released a statement confirming the verdict on Tuesday (September 29), in which it described City as having arranged “sham contracts” and being reliant on “sham agreements to artificially inflate the club’s revenues and reduce its costs”.
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Micah Richards addresses 115 charges verdict
Several ex-players have waded in with their thoughts, with former Manchester United captain-turned-pundit Roy Keane encouraging City’s players to throw their medals in the bin, claiming their achievements are redundant due to the “cheating”.
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Now, Richards, who formed part of Roberto Mancini’s City side that won the 2011/12 Premier League on goal difference, has finally offered his thoughts on the verdict, admitting he “felt absolutely devasted” when the news broke.
“The reports were troubling,” the former full-back said on The Rest is Football Podcast.
“I saw the words which were used by the Premier League in sham contracts and I felt absolutely devastated.
“I’ve been at that club since I was 14 years old, I would die for that club. I achieved my dream at Manchester City, but then to hear these reports, and not only me as an ex-player, but the fans, what they have to go through, absolutely devastating.”
Richards then described how he spoke to a close friend he used to live with during his days as an academy player, adding: “My digs man, he rang me and he was literally in tears and asking me about information, which I don’t know, I haven’t got the answers to tell him.
“And that’s someone who’s supported the club for 60-odd years, and the uncertainty around it is just heartbreaking.
“To have a headline of this nature for a club that I love so much, it’s been difficult. If you listen to the reports, they are damning. I feel saddened, I feel angry, I feel a lit bit confused because, on the other side, you have City’s side of the story.”
The pundit went on to say that “there are no winners” in this situation, finishing: “If Man City do the appeal and they get off, it’s still going to be tarnished. And, if they’re found guilty after the appeal, what happens then?
“And it’s not just Man City fans or Man City players, it’s the whole of the Premier League comes into question. This could be something that goes on for years and years and years.”
Richards made 245 appearances for City between 2005 and 2015, winning the 2010/11 FA Cup and 2011/12 Premier League.
According to the Premier League, City were found to have arranged disguised funding schemes worth more than £830million with commercial partners.
“The relevant sponsorship agreements were found to be shams, or at minimum did not reflect their economic substance,” the commission said.
The commission’s report found the club guilty of all but one charge relating to non-cooperation, suggesting “a number of important club witnesses gave false evidence in key respects and that some knowingly gave untrue and dishonest evidence”.
City have until October 2 to appeal; the club, owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), deny any wrongdoing and say they have a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists” to support their position.
Potential punishments include points deductions, expulsion/relegation from the Premier League, transfer bans and even the stripping of the three Premier League titles City won between 2008/09 and 2017/18.
Man City release statement maintaining innocence after 115 charges guilty verdict
A statement released by City in response to the Premier League’s original statement read: “Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today.
“The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case. The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.
“The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted.
“The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.
“The Club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete.”
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Topics: Premier League, Micah Richards, Football News
Luke Davies