Haaland rallies Norway after City found guilty of 114 Premier League rule breaches

Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 Premier League financial rule breaches covering a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018, leaving the club facing a nervous wait for their punishment. The club, which has consistently denied any wrongdoing, is expected to appeal the verdict. Speculation is already mounting over whether City could be stripped of titles won during the period in question.

The original charges were brought in 2023, and the independent panel’s findings now represent one of the most significant rulings in English football history. The scale of the potential sanctions remains unclear, but the verdict has cast a shadow over the club’s recent era of domestic dominance.

Amid the uncertainty, Erling Haaland appeared to be keeping his focus firmly on international duty with Norway. The City striker scored against Portugal on Sunday in a 2-1 defeat and afterwards posted a nine-word message on Instagram directed at his teammates: “We stick together. Thank you for these two nights, Ullevaal.”

Norway head coach Stale Solbakken had previously requested that Haaland be withdrawn from media commitments during the international break to keep him sharp on the pitch — a wish that was granted and rewarded with a goal.

Questions over Haaland’s long-term future at City have inevitably surfaced in the wake of the verdict. However, according to Spanish publication Sport, Real Madrid will not pursue a deal for the striker even if City face significant punishment, citing the lengthy contract Haaland has signed — one that contains no exit clauses.

The report also suggests that Haaland would not fit Real Madrid’s current setup, which is built around Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. A move to Barcelona has not been entirely ruled out, with the Catalan club considered a more compatible destination for the striker.

The verdict also appeared to weigh on some City-connected players during England’s defeat to Spain at Wembley on Saturday, with several making uncharacteristic errors. Whether the club’s off-field crisis begins to affect performances on it will be one of the defining questions of the season ahead.