{
  "id": 10915347,
  "title": "Richards devastated by Man City guilty verdicts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/richards-devastated-by-man-city-guilty-verdicts",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-30T10:07:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Sport",
    "slug": "bbc-sport",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ckrerg4n2v82o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Micah Richards, a former Manchester City defender, expressed his devastation upon reading the Premier League's guilty verdict against the club for financial wrongdoing. The independent commission found that City arranged sham contracts with commercial partners to disguise secret funding of over £830m during the 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons. The league confirmed City had been found guilty of all charges related to breaches of financial rules and nearly all charges in relation to failure to cooperate with the investigation. However, the club denies any wrongdoing and has until October 2nd to submit an appeal. Richards, who spent 14 years at the club, said the reports were troubling and devastating, adding that he feels saddened, angry, and confused.",
  "summary": "Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards expressed his devastation after learning of the Premier League's guilty verdict on the club's financial charges. According to Richards, he felt \"absolutely devastated\" upon reading the reports, which described Manchester City's actions as arranging \"sham contracts\" with commercial partners to disguise secret funding of over £830m.\n\nRichards, who was part of Manchester City's title-winning squad in 2011-12 and joined the club at the age of 14, stated that the news was troubling not only for him but also for the fans. The Premier League found Manchester City guilty of all charges related to breaches of financial rules between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.\n\nManchester City has until October 2 to submit an appeal, as they deny any wrongdoing. The club's potential punishment could impact past and future title races, European qualification, and the distribution of prize money.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Manchester City Found Guilty of Premier League Financial Breaches",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/manchester-city-found-guilty-of-premier-league-financial-breaches",
        "published": "2026-09-29T18:04:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Man City guilty of using ‘sham’ deals to distort finances, Premier League says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/man-city-guilty-of-using-sham-deals-to-distort-finances-premier",
        "published": "2026-09-29T21:13:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Premier League confirms Man City guilty of serious financial breaches",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/premier-league-confirms-man-city-guilty-of-serious-financial-breaches",
        "published": "2026-09-30T02:40:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Jakarta Post",
        "title": "Man City guilty of using 'sham' deals to distort finances, Premier League says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/man-city-guilty-of-using-sham-deals-to-distort-finances-premier",
        "published": "2026-09-30T04:01:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "Premier League confirms Man City guilty of serious financial breaches",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/premier-league-confirms-man-city-guilty-of-serious-financial-breaches-10893974",
        "published": "2026-09-30T07:59:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport Football",
        "title": "Richards 'devastated' by Man City guilty verdicts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/richards-devastated-by-man-city-guilty-verdicts-10915383",
        "published": "2026-09-30T10:07:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Richards 'devastated' by Man City guilty verdicts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/richards-devastated-by-man-city-guilty-verdicts-10915471",
        "published": "2026-09-30T10:11:42.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}