Akanji fears losing his medals as Man City appeal Premier League guilty verdict

Manuel Akanji has become the first Manchester City player to speak publicly about the prospect of having his medals stripped, after an independent Commission found the club guilty of all charges relating to more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period.

The Swiss defender, who left City for Inter Milan, told outlet Nau that he remains largely in the dark about the details of the case. “I’m still in touch with a few players, but I don’t know any more than you do,” he said. “We were told to stay calm, that they had everything under control and nothing major had happened. I trust the people in charge at Man City that that’s the case.”

Akanji did not hide his personal anxiety over the potential consequences. “I hope I don’t lose my titles. That would be a bit of a shame. But I’m only seeing it all in the news, too,” he added. “Who knows what else they might dig up.”

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said in a statement that City “systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade” and that upholding those rules was essential “to protect the integrity of the competition”. The club has lodged an appeal against the findings.

Possible sanctions being discussed include relegation, transfer bans, and the stripping of titles. City have won the Premier League six times, and the charges cover the period between 2009 and 2018.

Akanji joined City in 2022, meaning the titles most directly at risk — those won during the accused timeline — predate his arrival at the Etihad. He did, however, win two Premier League championships, two FA Cups, and the 2023 Champions League during his time at the club. That European triumph has drawn particular attention in Italy, where his current club Inter Milan were the opponents City defeated in the 2023 final in Istanbul.

The 31-year-old’s comments reflect the broader uncertainty hanging over the club as the appeals process begins, with no timeline yet confirmed for a resolution.