'Devastated' Man City fans face fallout as rivals demand relegation
MANCHESTER: Manchester City fans told AFP Wednesday they were “devastated” by the verdict on the football club’s financial breaches, while supporters of rival clubs called for City’s relegation from the Premier League.
Manchester City fans expressed devastation over the club's financial breaches verdict, while supporters of rival teams called for the Premier League's financial powerhouse to be relegated. An independent commission revealed that the Abu Dhabi-backed club had arranged fraudulent contracts with commercial partners to inflate revenues and cut costs by over £900 million (US$1.2 billion) between 2009 and 2018.
Despite winning the Premier League title three times and one FA Cup and three League Cups, fans at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium were left devastated. Mike Roberts, a longtime fan, stated he was "devastated" and uncertain about the club's future. Daniel Reed, an industrial designer, bluntly called the club "cheating." Former manager Pep Guardiola tried to reassure fans, saying, "we will get through this together," while Sports Minister Lisa Nandy warned that a relegation or expulsion from the Premier League is a serious sanction.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed concern if the owners abandoned the club. Manchester United and Liverpool fans echoed the desire for City to be punished, with some advocating for relegation or points deductions. Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane suggested that if he were a City player, he would discard all his medals, deeming it an act of betrayal.
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