{
  "id": 10914700,
  "title": "‘Devastated’: Ex-Man City star reacts to club’s guilty verdict",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/devastated-ex-man-city-star-reacts-to-clubs-guilty-verdict",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T09:44:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/devastated-ex-man-city-star-reacts-to-clubs-guilty-verdict-1.500693324"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Manchester City player Micah Richards has expressed his devastation following the club's guilty verdict over serious breaches of financial rules. Richards, who played for City from 2005 to 2014, made 228 appearances for the club during that time and was part of the team that won the FA Cup in 2011 and the Premier League in 2012. The Premier League's Independent Commission found that Manchester City used \"sham\" sponsorship agreements as part of a disguised funding arrangement, resulting in more than £900 million in \"sham payments\" and artificially inflated revenue. Richards described the reports as \"troubling\" and said he was \"devastated\" as someone who loves the club. He stated that he has been at City since he was 14 years old and that he would die for the club, adding that no one is taking his Premier League away. Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart also spoke out, backing chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and expressing his confidence in the club's position. The club has until October 2 to appeal the verdict, which could lead to expulsion from the Premier League if the appeal fails.",
  "summary": "Dubai: Former Manchester City player Micah Richards has given an emotional response to the news that his old club were found guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of its financial rules over the nine-season period from 2009/10 to 2017/18. Richards came through City’s academy and went on to make 228 appearances for the club between 2005 and 2014. He was part of the side that ended…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ghanaian Times",
        "title": "Man City CEO tells EFC board club will clear their name",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/man-city-ceo-tells-efc-board-club-will-clear-their-name",
        "published": "2026-09-30T08:58:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}