Micah Richards 'devastated' by Manchester City guilty verdicts as Jamie Carragher calls for title removal
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards reacts with devastation to the Premier League's guilty verdict on the club's financial charges, while Jamie Carragher says City's titles should be stripped.
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has expressed devastation after an independent commission found the club guilty of financial rule breaches. The Premier League said City arranged "sham contracts" with commercial partners to disguise secret funding of over £830m between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. The club was found guilty of all charges related to financial rules and all but one concerning failure to co-operate. City deny wrongdoing and have until 2 October to appeal.
Richards, who joined City's academy at 14 and won the 2011-12 Premier League title, spoke on The Rest is Football podcast. He described the reports as troubling and said the phrase "sham contracts" left him absolutely devastated. He added that the uncertainty is heartbreaking for supporters, revealing that his former landlady's husband, a lifelong fan, called him in tears seeking answers. Richards said he feels saddened, angry and confused, noting City's own stance.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak stated on Saturday that the club remains confident of proving its innocence. On Tuesday, chief executive Ferran Soriano told staff and players in a video message that "irrefutable evidence" had been ignored by the commission.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher offered a contrasting view. He said he feels for City's players, who may feel their careers will be asterisked, but accused the club's hierarchy of gaslighting. Carragher believes the titles should be removed from City's record, though he acknowledged it is unclear whether other clubs would be awarded them. He argued that the 2013-14 title race, in which City overtook Liverpool, robbed players like Steven Gerrard of a feeling they can never recover, and that returning medals does not matter because it is about feelings.
The verdict covers a nine-year period in which City won the Premier League three times. Richards was part of the 2011-12 squad, while Carragher's former Liverpool teammate Gerrard came closest to a title in 2013-14. The case continues to draw strong reactions from former players and fans, with City maintaining their innocence and the appeal deadline set for 2 October.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
