Roy Keane has said Manchester City's players should be 'disgusted' by the club after they were found guilty of financial breaches. The former Manchester United captain made the comments ahead of City's Premier League match against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
City were found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them by an independent commission. The club has already lodged an appeal, which will be heard at a separate hearing.
Keane: 'This is an ownership issue'
Keane absolved the club's players of any personal responsibility but maintained they should feel profoundly let down by City's conduct during the period covered by the charges. He said: "This is nothing against the players or supporters, this is an ownership issue."
"If you're going after the big prizes, we've been fortunate to pick one or two up. You want to do it honestly. You want to look back at your career and think we did everything. You win some games, you lose some games."
"You can't be looking back at what Man City have done and found guilty of, I know there's an appeal. We've been sitting here and praising Man City and saying they're amazing and bringing in amazing players."
'I'd be disgusted'
Keane added: "And Pep turning really good players into superstars. But the way they were doing it, that's the issue, nothing on the players."
"If I was a player and there were stories about stuff we were doing at Manchester United, I'd be disgusted. I'd be disgusted if there were any dodgy dealings and anyone cooking the books."
"Some people think this is a bit strong, but I wouldn't feel like I've earned a league title if there was something dodgy going on in the background. Absolutely not."
Call for honesty in football
Keane also spoke about the wider need for integrity in the game, saying: "We talk about lads going out and giving their all and picking up injuries but that is your job, that's what you're supposed to do when you're giving it your all."
"You just hope everyone is else is on the same page and being honest and everyone else is trying to do it the proper way."
"I hear a lot of ex-players saying that Man City players gave it their all, we know that. That's not the issue. But they had unbelievable players on the bench to come on and make them stronger and get them over the line against teams like Liverpool who are pushing each other."
"That's what top-level football is about, we had it with Arsenal. You hope there is honesty. That's where respect comes into the game."
"We're footballing people. It's difficult for us to talk about legal stuff, we play the game because we love it and are passionate about it but you've got to also have a bit of honesty."
