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Micah Richards has spoken emotionally about Manchester City’s financial-rule verdict, admitting the findings have left him devastated after spending much of his life connected to the club.

An independent Premier League commission has found City guilty of serious financial breaches across nine seasons between 2009/10 and 2017/18.

The league said City used “sham” arrangements to inflate revenues and reduce costs by more than £900million, while three of four cooperation-related charges were also upheld. City deny wrongdoing and intend to appeal.

Micah Richards reacts to damning feelings

Speaking on The Rest is Football, Richards explained how difficult the verdict has been to process given his long association with City.

‘The reports were troubling. I saw the words which were used by the Premier League in sham contracts and I felt absolutely devastated.

‘I’ve been at that club since I was 14 years old, I would die for that club. I achieved my dream at Manchester City, but then to hear these reports, and not only me as an ex-player, but the fans, what they have to go through, absolutely devastating.’

‘To have a headline of this nature for a club that I love so much, it’s been difficult. If you listen to the reports, they are damning. I feel saddened, I feel angry, I feel a little bit confused because, on the other side, you have City’s side of the story.’

‘There are no winners in this,’ added Richards. ‘If Man City do the appeal and they get off, it’s still going to be tarnished. And, if they’re found guilty after the appeal, what happens then?

‘And it’s not just Man City fans or Man City players, it’s the whole of the Premier League comes into question. This could be something that goes on for years and years and years.’

The commission’s findings were particularly severe. The Premier League said City filed misstated accounts, concealed the true state of their finances from auditors and regulators, and significantly breached domestic and UEFA spending limits.

Man City icon captures the human side of the case

Richards’ reaction highlights something that can be lost in the legal detail: this case also affects former players and supporters whose memories are tied to City’s most successful period.

He was part of the 2011/12 title-winning side, so any debate about stripping honours or reassessing that era is inevitably personal for him.

At the same time, the findings themselves are serious and cannot simply be dismissed as background noise. Reuters reports that City intend to challenge the commission’s conclusions, meaning the final outcome could still take considerable time.

That leaves City in an uncomfortable position. Even if they succeed on appeal, the allegations and language used in the ruling will remain part of the club’s recent history. If the appeal fails, the consequences could go far beyond fines and affect how the entire period is viewed.

Richards is therefore probably right about one thing: there are unlikely to be clear winners from what comes next.

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The post Micah Richards responds emotionally to Man City facing financial charges appeared first on CaughtOffside.