Roy Keane has said he would throw his medals in the bin if he were a Manchester City player, following the Premier League's confirmation that the club were guilty of all charges related to their financial rules. The league found City boosted their income by more than £900m through "sham contracts" with commercial partners.
Keane condemns City's achievements
The former Manchester United captain made the comments during ITV's coverage of England's Nations League match against Czechia. "If I was a player, I'd be 100% sticking those medals in the bin. Of course you would, it's cheating," he said. "They won it on the pitch because cheating was going on."
Keane added: "They knew it would hurt a lot of people, but they've still done it." City, who continue to deny any wrongdoing, won eight trophies, including three Premier League titles between 2009 and 2018, the period under investigation.
Richards devastated by verdict
Former City defender Micah Richards said the verdict has left him devastated and heartbroken. Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards said: "The reports were troubling. I saw the words which were used by the Premier League in 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, and not only me as an ex-player, but the fans, what they have to go through, absolutely devastating."
Fan heartbreak
Richards described speaking to the fan he used to live with as a young player at the club. "My digs man, he rang me and he was literally in tears and asking me about information, which I don't know, I haven't got the answers to tell him," he said.
"And that's someone who's supported the club for 60-odd years, and the uncertainty around it is just heartbreaking. To have a headline of this nature for a club that I love so much, it's been difficult. If you listen to the reports, they are damning. I feel saddened, I feel angry, I feel a lit bit confused because, on the other side, you have City's side of the story."
