Man City fans defiant after guilty verdict: 'This is my club. I love this club'
Manchester City supporters are reacting with a mixture of doomscrolling and defiance after the club were found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges levelled against them. The verdict, confirmed by the Premier League, has left fans contemplating the club's future while preparing for an away trip to Liverpool.
- Verdict: Manchester City found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges levelled against them by the Premier League.
- Appeal: The club continue to deny the charges and are appealing against the decision.
- Next match: City return to action after the international break with an away match against Liverpool at Anfield.
- Fan protest: Supporters are organising an 'old-school away day' at Anfield, calling on the 3,000-strong travelling support to wear retro shirts and take inflatables.
- Stakes: If the appeal fails, possible sanctions include a substantial fine, points deduction, transfer bans and even expulsion from the Premier League.
What was said
"It's been one of the longest weeks of my life. It feels like the situation is changing every few seconds."
"My mood's varied between doomscrolling and catastrophising to suddenly feeling quite defiant and thinking this is just football."
"I've been in every mood possible, which for a City fan, is pretty normal."
"People largely didn't expect the verdict to come because this had been going on for so long. It blindsided me and I think it blindsided the football world."
"All I want to do is make sure my club is going to survive this. If your club does things that are out of your control, it affects you as a fan. It's going to be a lot harder to enjoy football until this all comes to fruition. I don't expect anyone to care about that, and that's fair enough."
"Last Friday, when I went to bed, I was a Manchester City fan. I woke up a City fan. And guess what? Even after the bombshell, the Premier League statement, I am still a City fan."
"Don't get me wrong I am not doing cartwheels, because the club's name is being tarnished. And I think even if we go to the High Court and win any sort of appeal, it'll still be tarnished."
"In all this, it's being lost what some of the achievements were. The likes of Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva... what they won in the game... This is my club. I love this club. And if the worst happens and our next derby is against Altrincham, I'll be there like I always have been."
"The fans have been through some dark times and we got through it with humour. We were in the second tier when the bananas thing came out and football was not in a great place overall. It was to bring some fun."
"City fans won't hide from our football club and whatever ends up happening, we - as fans - will do it in our unique way."
"Obviously I love my team - I back them all the way. The rules were put in place by big teams so no-one else could get a chance to become a big team. And now that someone has, who was little, they're trying to do them for financial fair play."
"Nothing's confirmed yet, but I'll back my team whenever. City for life. Even if we did go down, we'd come straight back up."
"The players are professionals - they will get on with it. These players are seasoned internationals. Anfield is always a hostile atmosphere, not overly because of what has happened. This issue has been hanging over us like the sword of Damocles over the last eight years. Their fans will be singing songs and chanting things but that doesn't bother us. We have faced it before when going to Anfield."
These quotes reveal a fanbase processing a seismic shock. Steven McInerney's admission of doomscrolling captures the uncertainty, while Rachel Herdson's unwavering commitment and Dave Wilson's humorous defiance show that supporters are determined not to let the verdict define them. The 'old-school away day' at Anfield, with retro shirts and inflatables, is a deliberate attempt to reclaim the club's identity from the negativity of the charges.
City's on-pitch focus amid off-field turmoil
Manchester City will head to Anfield top of the Premier League, with fans feeling that work on the pitch should not be overshadowed by events off it. The players, according to official supporters' club representative Kevin Parker, are seasoned internationals who will get on with the job. The atmosphere at Anfield is expected to be hostile, but Parker insists City have faced similar before. The team's ability to maintain their league position will be crucial in keeping morale high among supporters.
The charges relate to a period from 2009-10 to 2017-18, during which City won the Premier League three times, including pipping Liverpool in 2013-14. Those memories are cherished by fans like Rachel Herdson, who fears the achievements of players like Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva are being lost in the fallout. The appeal process, which could go to the High Court, means the saga will continue for the foreseeable future. Fans are bracing for a range of possible sanctions, from fines to expulsion, but remain hopeful that the club will clear its name.
Talking points
- Should City fans' 'old-school away day' at Anfield be seen as a positive show of defiance or a distraction from the serious nature of the charges?
- Rachel Herdson says the club's name will be tarnished even if the appeal succeeds. Is she right, and does it matter to the fans?
- With possible sanctions including expulsion, how should the City squad handle the psychological pressure during the title run-in?
- Do rival fans have a right to gloat, or should the focus be on the integrity of the Premier League's financial rules?
What happens next
Manchester City return to action after the international break with an away match against Liverpool at Anfield. The game will be a test of the players' focus and the fans' resolve. The appeal against the guilty verdict is ongoing, with the outcome and potential sanctions still unknown. City fans will continue to support their club, but the coming weeks could define the club's future both on and off the pitch.
Frequently asked questions
What were Manchester City found guilty of?
Manchester City were found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges levelled against them by the Premier League. The club continue to deny the charges and are appealing against the decision.
When do Manchester City play next?
Manchester City return to action after the international break with an away match against Liverpool at Anfield.
What sanctions could Manchester City face?
If City are unsuccessful in their appeal, possible sanctions include a substantial fine, points deduction, transfer bans and even expulsion from the Premier League.
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