Manchester City fans have been left feeling betrayed after the club was found guilty of Premier League charges, having long believed assurances from top officials that no rules had been broken. The verdict, which followed a lengthy investigation, has shattered the trust of a fanbase that had been repeatedly told the club was innocent.
Assurances from the top
When the 115 charges were first announced, Manchester City's leadership told players and staff that there was nothing to worry about. Former defender Aymeric Laporte recalled: "When I was there and the news broke, the sporting director (Txiki Begiristain) and the CEO (Ferran Soriano) came and told all the players and staff that we can all be very calm because not one rule has been broken by Man City."
Laporte added: "They told us everything was fine so that’s why we all think City will be fine. I don’t think there will be any issues." This confidence was echoed by chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, who consistently said he couldn't speak much about the case but would "say everything I've wanted to say" after the charges were settled.
A history of vindication
City fans were not new to such battles. Two years before the 115 charges were levelled, the club had successfully overturned a two-year UEFA ban from the Champions League. It took just five months for the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn that ban. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said the UEFA investigation was a frustrating distraction, but it proved City had done nothing wrong.
The club had been proved right, and its constant insistence of innocence was vindicated. So, when the Premier League brought its own charges based on the exact same leaked dossier that UEFA had used, fans had a precedent to believe them again.
Fan experience and impact
For three-and-a-half years, the charges lingered over fans. Rival supporters chanted "we know what you are, you cheating b******s" at matches, and phone-in radio shows were filled with speculation about relegation. Despite the noise, City fans remained cautiously optimistic, bolstered by the club's confident statements about a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence" supporting innocence.
Now, with the guilty verdict, fans are left heartbroken. The club has some serious explaining to do to its loyal supporters. However, the stain of this verdict will not overshadow the most memorable moments, including Sergio Aguero's 90+4 finish to seal the first Premier League title, Ilkay Gundogan's brace to snatch the title from Liverpool, and Rodri's strike in Istanbul to win the first Champions League title. These memories will last forever, regardless of the outcome.
