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Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has said he would throw away his Manchester City medals if he were a player at the club following the Premier League’s verdict on the club’s financial-rule breaches.
The Premier League confirmed that an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of serious financial breaches covering the period between 2009 and 2018. The commission also found the club guilty of most of the charges relating to its alleged failure to cooperate with the league’s investigation.
Reacting to the verdict, Keane said he would not want to keep medals won during the period affected by the breaches.
“If I was a player, I’d be 100% sticking those medals in the bin. Of course you would, it’s cheating,” Keane said while speaking to ITV Sport.
Manchester City have consistently denied wrongdoing and have said they intend to appeal the commission’s findings. The club has until Friday, October 2, to lodge its appeal.
The club has not yet been sanctioned, with the Premier League expected to determine the appropriate punishment separately. Possible sanctions could include sporting penalties, although no final decision has been announced.
City won eight trophies during the period covered by the charges, including three Premier League titles.
Keane argued that the financial breaches had undermined the achievements of players who won those trophies.
“They knew it would hurt a lot of people, but they’ve still done it,” he added.
Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, however, said he would not want his former club to be awarded a Premier League title retrospectively if any of City’s titles were eventually removed.
Rooney, who was part of the United side that finished runners-up to City in the 2011–12 season, said he would not feel comfortable receiving a medal years after the campaign had ended.
“I wouldn’t feel comfortable about accepting another Premier League medal because I don’t think we deserve it. We didn’t do enough that season to win the league,” Rooney said.
Rooney nevertheless said he believed Manchester City could face severe sporting sanctions, including relegation and restrictions on spending, depending on the outcome of the disciplinary process.
The Premier League has said the sanctions will be dealt with at a separate hearing, while Manchester City retains its right to appeal the findings.
