Micah Richards ‘devastated’ by Manchester City verdict: what the medals debate means

Micah Richards has described himself as ‘absolutely devastated’ by Manchester City’s financial verdict, speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast in remarks reported by Press Association on September 30. His reaction puts a former title winner’s achievements at the centre of the debate, while punishment for the club remains undecided.

‘I would die for that club,’ Richards said, according to PA. Gulf News separately quotes his defence of his playing honours: ‘No one is taking my Premier League away.’ Neither statement reflects a decision to remove a title: the Premier League says sanctions require a separate hearing.

The new development since NewsJaws reported Manchester City’s financial verdict is Richards’ public response. PA also reports Roy Keane’s separate suggestion that City players should discard their medals. The two men were speaking on different programmes; the reporting does not establish a direct exchange.

What Micah Richards said about Manchester City

PA identifies The Rest Is Football as the setting for Richards’ remarks. Its report includes the podcast’s September 30 announcement of an episode with Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Richards discussing the findings and possible consequences.

Gulf News quotes him saying: ‘The reports were troubling. The words used by the Premier League, “sham contracts”, I feel devastated as someone who loves Man City.’ He added: ‘I achieved my dream at Man City.’

His connection stretches back to the academy. According to Gulf News, Richards made 228 appearances for City between 2005 and 2014. He was part of the 2011 FA Cup-winning side and the team that secured the club’s first league title in 44 years in 2012.

What Roy Keane said about City’s medals

PA separately reports Keane speaking on ITV and saying that, as a City player, he would be ‘sticking those medals in the bin’. That was his view about how players should regard their achievements, rather than an announcement about what the commission would do.

Richards’ insistence that nobody was taking his Premier League away expresses his own position. The published League statement leaves punishment to a later hearing. Neither pundit’s remarks settle whether any sporting honour will be affected.

Another former City player, Joe Hart, expressed confidence in chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak. Gulf News reports that Hart told BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘My honest opinion is I’ve got no reason not to trust Khaldoon. What he said is enough for me.’

Hart also described himself as ‘extremely proud’ of what he and his teammates achieved, according to Gulf News. His comments communicate his trust in the club’s leadership and pride in his playing career; they do not determine the disciplinary outcome.

What the Manchester City commission found

In its September 29 statement, the Premier League said the independent commission found City guilty of financial-rule breaches covering the nine seasons from 2009/10 to 2017/18, and most alleged failures to cooperate with the investigation.

The League said the findings concerned arrangements that artificially inflated revenue or reduced costs, misstated accounts and substantial breaches of Premier League and UEFA spending limits. It described ‘sham’ commercial agreements as part of a disguised funding scheme.

The distinction between financial findings and cooperation charges matters: the League says three of four alleged cooperation breaches were upheld. Its announcement therefore does not say every allegation succeeded. These are findings against the club, not announcements of individual punishment for Richards or his former teammates.

How Manchester City responded

City rejects the findings. In its official statement, the club says it is ‘innocent of the accusations’ and has a ‘comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence’ supporting its positions. Those are the club’s assertions; its denial does not overturn the commission’s decision.

The club says it will pursue appeal avenues because it considers the decision to contain material errors ‘of law, principle and fact’. It also says significant elements of the process remain unfinished and that future proceedings restrict what it can say publicly.

Have Manchester City lost titles or medals?

The League’s announcement does not remove titles or medals. It says sanctions will be considered separately by the commission at a hearing that remains private and confidential until publication of the outcome is permitted.

City has until Friday, October 2, to appeal the findings, according to the League. The club’s statement establishes its intention to appeal, rather than confirming a filing or a completed appeal outcome.

League chief executive Richard Masters says the remaining process is needed to provide certainty for clubs and supporters, without promising a completion date. The League has published a redacted core decision and says further material will be released when permitted. The eventual sanction remains an open question.