Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane told ITV that Manchester City deserves punishment in its financial case, rejecting former City player Rodri's position. According to dpa, British media reported that City had been found guilty on 114 of 115 counts. The Premier League commission has not announced a sanction, and the club can still appeal.
Keane, 55, argued that sporting achievements do not remove the club's responsibility for breaches. He described the reported number of guilty findings as shocking and said City must accept the consequences. He did not propose a specific penalty.
Rodri, who played for City from 2019 to 2026 before joining Hansi Flick's Barcelona for this season, took a different view. The 30-year-old midfielder said even the potential removal of league titles would not erase what the players achieved through commitment, teamwork and their daily efforts together. He considers the team's sporting successes deserved.
Keane countered that the case concerned choices made by the club. Rodri pointed to proceedings in 2020, saying City had ultimately been cleared after an initial adverse decision. He expressed confidence in the legal system and in the club's innocence.
The current proceedings have been under way since 2023 and concern alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018, a period in which City won three Premier League titles. The allegations cover inaccurate financial and sponsorship information and incomplete disclosures about payments to coaches and players. The club has consistently denied the allegations.