In Manchester, City fans ‘devastated’ while rival fans call for relegation

Manchester City fans expressed deep devastation over the club's financial misconduct verdict, while rivals demanded the team be stripped of its Premier League status. An independent commission discovered the Abu Dhabi-owned club engaged in deceptive contracts to inflate revenues and slash costs by over £900 million from 2009 to 2018.

During that period, City claimed three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, and three League Cups. At the Etihad Stadium, longtime fan Mike Roberts lamented his devastation and uncertainty about the club's future, while Daniel Reed, a 41-year-old industrial designer, declared the team had been "cheating." Former manager Pep Guardiola urged fans to "get through this together," and Sports Minister Lisa Nandy warned the punishment could be severe enough to expel the club from the Premier League.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a former Manchester mayor, expressed concern if the owners abandoned the club, emphasizing the significant investment from Abu Dhabi United Group. In contrast, Manchester United and Liverpool fans advocated for a relegation or points deduction as the appropriate punishment. Former City defender Micah Richards, however, was "absolutely devastated" by the revelations and claimed the club would be vindicated, while former Manchester United captain Roy Keane suggested Manchester City players should forfeit their medals.