Man City fans reacts to guilty verdict: 'I can't wait to see Haaland bag a hat-trick against Grimsby'

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FT Desk

Manchester City were finally found guilty of 114 of 115 financial irregularity charges this week in a saga that has been going on for years.

The club have been facing a legal case brought by the Premier League since 2023, following allegations of financial wrongdoing spanning the period from 2009 to 2018.

The club are accused of failing to provide accurate financial information, including details surrounding payments, as well as breaching financial regulations set by both the Premier League and UEFA. City have consistently denied the allegations.

The case originated after German publication Der Spiegel published leaked financial documents that prompted scrutiny of the club’s finances. Given the unprecedented scale and complexity of the proceedings, the case has continued for several years, with the source of sponsorships also a major factor in the investigation.

On Friday, David Ornstein of The Athletic dropped the bomb that Man City had been found guilty of the majority of the charges.

No actual sanctions have been made yet, but there will likely be a points deduction that could make relegation a real possibility.

What do Man City fans make of all this?

David Mooney from the Blue Moon podcast, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I am a bit shocked and stunned about how to process it.

"I imagine as time goes on it will just come with a tinge of disappointment, more than anything else. It is a really weird feeling to process. It has been such a good time over this last 10 years or so, it questions your own experience.

"On the one hand you've got this great enjoyment from the team you have supported all your life winning unprecedented success and playing football like we've never seen before.

"But then having in the back of your mind that everybody thinks we have cheated to do this and everybody thinks this is illegitimate, and that it hasn't been fairly achieved.

"If Manchester City are guilty then the City fans are just as much the victims in this as everybody else because their feelings have been used as well.

"It's just that they had a good time for 10 years and now have to face reality."

There is, of course, the concern that a fire sale of players will eventually happen. Will star player Erling Haaland be sold or will we see the highly unlikely scenario of him playing in the Championship or below?

"I think I need therapy now. It has escalated over the last few hours. It's so hard to be a die-hard Blue. The decision is made, yet we haven't appealed it or really made a statement yet," City fan Matt told 5 Live.

"I was there when Paul Dickov scored back in Division Two. We celebrated that success and went on to do incredible things. We have a song about going down with a billion in the bank.

"If we get titles taken off us, point deductions, we come out of this league, then we will fight until the end. I can't wait to see Erling Haaland bag a hat-trick against Grimsby.

"You go through the good times and the hard times. We have to go to Liverpool and it's going to be very interesting to see how we react. We boo the Champions League anthem, well what about the Premier League?"

Though modern City fans know mostly success, there are, of course, thousands who have stayed with the club as they have climbed up through the divisions to eventually win the Premier League and the Champions League.

It seems those memories will not be forgotten no matter what the sanctions may be.

Season ticket holder John said on 5 Live: "I was in Istanbul [for the 2023 Champions League final], that will never be taken away from me what I experienced that day, the build-up to the game and the game, and the day after, and everything that went along with it.

"That will never be taken away from me, regardless of what's been decided in the court or elsewhere along with the Premier League."

Fellow supporter David Wilson told BBC News: "You will never take away all the memories of all those moments and trophies from City fans. Those will live on regardless what happens over the next weeks, months and years.

"There are many fans who were there when we were in the lower divisions, and they will stick by the club. What we want as fans is an explanation as to why - if we have been found guilty - we have dragged it out so long. Some context behind it.

"True City fans, and fans who have been there all their lives, will still love the club dearly no matter what other people say."

Man City have yet to publicly respond to the charges.