Roy Keane slams ‘cheating’ Manchester City and demands harsh punishment after guilty verdict

Roy Keane has told Manchester City to “take their medicine” after the club were reportedly found guilty of the vast majority of the Premier League charges brought against them.

City had faced 115 charges relating to alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations during a period in which they established themselves as the dominant force in English football.

According to the report, the Premier League has succeeded in proving the substantive claims against City, although the club continue to deny wrongdoing and are preparing to appeal the decision.

The prospect of a major punishment has inevitably followed, and former Manchester United captain Keane believes City can have few complaints if severe sanctions are eventually imposed.

Speaking on ITV, Keane delivered a particularly strong assessment of the situation and rejected Rodri’s argument that City's achievements on the pitch were still deserved.

“It’s about time,” Keane said.

“I would disagree with Rodri’s messages there. It was the club’s choice – they chose to cheat.

“Whatever they have won over the last few years, they deserve to be punished. Where we start and finish with that is difficult but they were cheating.

“They’ve been found guilty of it and they have to take their medicine now. It was a shock to be found guilty of so many of the charges.”

The scale of any eventual sanction remains unclear, particularly with an appeal expected.

Possible punishments being discussed range from significant financial penalties and points deductions to relegation, while some supporters have called for trophies won during the relevant period to be stripped.

Ian Wright also believes significant punishment is necessary, arguing City's rivals may have been denied achievements of their own.

Liverpool were among City's closest challengers during their period of dominance, and Wright questioned how Jurgen Klopp's legacy might have looked had his team enjoyed further success.

“They should be punished for it,” Wright said.

“They may have been able to experience those memories and all those great times together but when you look at the teams chasing them who were doing it right, it’s not right.

“What have we taken from Liverpool and Klopp’s legacy, and that team? What could they have experienced? They cheated to get it done and other players have missed out on that.”

It adds another dimension to the debate surrounding any potential punishment, with attention inevitably turning towards the clubs who finished behind City during the seasons in question.

Despite the reported verdict, Manchester City remain adamant they have done nothing wrong.

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reiterated the club’s position and stressed that the process is far from finished.

In a message to supporters, he said City's confidence in proving their innocence remains as strong as it was when proceedings began.

With an appeal expected, a definitive conclusion to one of the biggest legal battles in Premier League history may therefore still be some distance away.

Attention now turns to Manchester City's appeal and, potentially, the punishment that could follow if the verdict stands.

The scale of any sanction will be crucial. Financial penalties, points deductions and even relegation have all been discussed, while the question of City's previous trophies is certain to remain a major talking point.

For now, City continue to maintain their innocence, meaning the legal process is not yet over despite the reported guilty verdict.