Keane and Wright demand City stripped of titles after guilty verdict on 114 charges

Roy Keane and Ian Wright have demanded Manchester City face the harshest possible sanctions — including the removal of titles — after an independent panel found the club guilty of 114 of the 115 financial rule breaches brought against them by the Premier League.

The verdict, delivered on Friday evening after a three-year investigation, sent shockwaves through English football. City have consistently maintained their innocence throughout the process and are expected to appeal the decision.

Speaking alongside Mark Pougatch and Juan Mata during England’s Nations League clash with Spain at Wembley, Keane was unequivocal. “It was the choice of the club, they chose to cheat, and whatever they have won over the last few years, they deserve to be punished,” he said. “They were cheating. Been found guilty of it, they have to take their medicine now.”

Keane also pushed back on comments made earlier by City midfielder Rodri, who had spent a significant portion of his Spain press conference defending his former club. “I certainly would disagree with Rodri’s messages there,” Keane added.

Wright echoed the sentiment, arguing that the punishment must reflect the scale of the wrongdoing and the damage done to rival clubs. “They should take that away from them, they should be punished for it,” he said. “What have we taken from Liverpool’s legacy, Klopp and that team? What could they have experienced? Players have missed out on unbelievable opportunities for themselves.”

Wright also addressed the broader reputational damage to English football. “Not very good, not very good,” he said when asked where the verdict leaves the Premier League’s standing. “Roy’s right, they cheated to get it done, and people have missed out on that. I’m glad that we finally got there.”

The scale of the guilty verdict — 114 charges covering financial fair play, player and manager payments, and failure to provide accurate information — makes City’s case the most significant disciplinary matter in Premier League history. The sanctions available to the independent commission include points deductions, fines, and in theory expulsion, though the precise punishment has yet to be determined.