Rio Ferdinand has reacted to reports that Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges against them relating to breaches of Premier League financial regulations. According to The Athletic, an independent commission ruled against the club on all but one of the charges.
Charges cover nine-year period
The alleged breaches span the nine-year period between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, during which Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions three times. In 2012, City pipped Manchester United to the title on goal difference on the final day, thanks to Sergio Aguero's iconic winning goal against Queens Park Rangers.
Six years later, Manchester City became the first team in Premier League history to reach a century of points, with Manchester United finishing as runners-up that season. That campaign prompted a notable claim from Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho's second-place claim
"If I tell you, for example, that I consider one of the best jobs of my career was to finish second with Man United in the Premier League, you will say, 'this guy is crazy,'" Mourinho said at the time. "He won 25 titles and he is saying that a second position was one of his best achievements? I keep saying this because people don't know what is going on behind the scenes."
Ferdinand has now suggested City should be stripped of those two title wins, which would mean he would gain two extra winner's medals and Mourinho would receive an additional one.
Ferdinand's social media response
In response to a message on social media, Ferdinand wrote: "Another premier league medal to be added to the cabinet," before adding: "And another for Jose…." He also suggested Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be due another Premier League medal, although the period covered by the charges does not include the 2020-21 season. Ferdinand concluded his campaign with an AI-generated photo of seven Premier League winner's medals.
