Micah Richards says he is devastated by Premier League verdict on Manchester City

Richards expressed his heartbreak over the league’s finding that Manchester City breached 115 financial rules, while the club announced an immediate appeal.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:00:13 GMT

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards said he was "absolutely devastated" by the Premier League’s verdict that the club breached 115 financial rules, speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, according to two Independent reports published on 30 September 2026.

What happened

The Premier League concluded that Manchester City engaged in a scheme worth close to £1 billion, using “sham” contracts to inflate revenue or reduce expenditure and thereby evade league and UEFA financial regulations. The authority found the club guilty of 115 charges and announced that severe disciplinary actions could follow. Manchester City responded by stating it would appeal the findings immediately.

What the reports add

Both Independent articles report the same verdict and Richards’s reaction. The first article emphasizes Richards’s personal connection to the club, noting his quote about hearing the reports and the impact on long‑time fans. The second article adds commentary from pundits Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher, who called the club’s actions cheating and suggested titles could be stripped.

What was said

Richards told the podcast, "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…" (Independent). Roy Keane said on ITV that players should "throw their medals in the bin" (Independent). Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports News that City’s titles should be stripped and that rival clubs like Liverpool were robbed (Independent).

How it came about

The verdict follows a series of earlier rulings on Manchester City’s financial conduct. On 27 September, Felo News reported that the club was found guilty of 114 of 115 charges and that chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak remained confident of an appeal (Felo). The next day, Felo covered the club’s guilty finding in detail (Felo). Richards’s reaction therefore arrives amid ongoing legal and sporting repercussions for the club.

Key facts

The Premier League found Manchester City guilty of 115 financial rule breaches. (independent.co.uk)
Micah Richards said he was "absolutely devastated" by the verdict on The Rest is Football podcast. (independent.co.uk)
Manchester City announced it will appeal the findings immediately. (independent.co.uk)