Richards 'absolutely devastated' as Man City found guilty of almost all 115 charges

Manchester City have been found guilty of almost all 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League, with the governing body concluding the club operated a scheme worth close to £1bn using “sham” arrangements to artificially inflate revenue or reduce expenditure and circumvent league and UEFA financial regulations. City, eight-time Premier League champions, remain defiant and have announced they will appeal immediately.

Former City defender Micah Richards was among the first prominent voices to react, describing the verdict as deeply personal. Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards said: “The reports were troubling. I saw the words which were used by the Premier League — 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, absolutely devastating.”

Richards recounted a call from his former youth-career landlord, who was “literally in tears” seeking answers Richards said he did not have. “That’s someone who’s supported the club for 60-odd years, and the uncertainty around it is just heartbreaking,” he said. “If you listen to the reports, they are damning. I feel saddened, I feel angry, I feel a bit confused because, on the other side, you have City’s side of the story.”

Richards also warned that the fallout would extend well beyond the club itself. “There are no winners in this. If Man City do the appeal and they get off, it’s still going to be tarnished. And it’s not just Man City fans or Man City players — it’s the whole of the Premier League that comes into question. This could be something that goes on for years and years and years.”

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane took a harder line, stating on ITV that any player in City’s position should discard their medals. “They knew it would hurt a lot of people, but they’ve still done it,” Keane said. “If I was a player, I’d be 100 per cent sticking those medals in the bin. It’s cheating. You’re hearing nonsense about some ex-players saying, ‘Oh well, they won on the pitch’. Because it was cheating!”

The exact punishment City will face has not yet been confirmed, with significant disciplinary action expected to follow the appeal process. The scale of the findings means the consequences are likely to reverberate across English football for some time.