Roy Keane has urged Manchester City’s title-winning players to throw their Premier League medals in the bin after an independent commission found the club guilty of breaching financial rules.
Keane Slams Man City and Tells Players: Your Medals Belong in the Bin
The Premier League announced on Tuesday that the commission found City guilty of all charges linked to financial rule breaches across nine seasons.
The panel concluded that the club used bogus contracts and agreements to pump up revenues and shrink costs by more than £900m.
City avoided one charge connected to non-cooperation with the investigation. The club denies any wrongdoing and has until Friday, October 2, to appeal.
City won three Premier League titles during the nine-year period under review, which makes the verdict especially damaging.
Keane, speaking on ITV during England’s Nations League win over the Czech Republic, did not hold back.
He accused City of cheating and said the players who collected medals during that era knew their actions would hurt many people.
He said that if he had enjoyed that success, he would put those medals straight in the bin.
When asked whether the players would feel let down, Keane said they absolutely would, because the achievements came through cheating.
He also dismissed ex-players who argue the team won on the pitch, insisting the club benefited from rule-breaking.
Keane added that the situation will make life hard for Enzo Maresca and the current squad.
He said the owners are happy to cheat, and that maintaining excellence will be very difficult.
His comments intensify the debate over whether City’s recent success should carry an asterisk.
The commission could strip titles, deduct points, or impose fines. The Premier League has no fixed punishment for financial breaches, leaving the independent panel with broad discretion.
