Roy Keane Accuses Manchester City of Cheating: “If I were a player, I’d throw those medals in the trash”

Roy Keane condemns Manchester City financial breaches

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has sharply criticised Manchester City after the club was found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules over nine seasons. Keane said he would reject any medals won during a period affected by financial misconduct, arguing that Manchester City’s on-field success was linked to cheating.

“They knew this would hurt a lot of people, but they did it anyway. If I were a player, I’d throw those medals in the trash without hesitation. Of course I would; it’s cheating… They won on the field because cheating was going on,”

Keane made the comments to ITV Sport after England’s 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic in the Nations League. The remarks followed allegations that Manchester City used commercial arrangements to inflate revenues and reduce costs under the Premier League’s financial regulations.

Premier League allegations against Manchester City

The Premier League states that Manchester City arranged sham contracts (which misrepresented the real agreement between the parties) with several of its commercial partners, in addition to using “sham” agreements with others, in order to artificially inflate the club’s revenues and reduce its costs.

The league also accused Manchester City of falsely altering its financial situation by more than 1.050 billion euros. According to the allegations, the club agreed sponsorship deals worth substantial sums with several companies, but the sponsors paid only part of the agreed amounts. The remainder was allegedly covered by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd, Manchester City’s owner.

The Premier League said this arrangement allowed Manchester City to artificially inflate the club’s revenue and therefore spend more under the competition’s financial rules. The source states that Manchester City was found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges brought against the club.

Concerns over Manchester City players and owners

Keane also warned that the allegations could affect Manchester City’s players, coach Enzo Maresca and the club’s wider reputation. He said it would be difficult for a team to sustain elite standards while operating under scrutiny of its ownership.

“I think the situation will be very difficult for the players, the coach (Enzo Maresca) and the club—and for what they represent—when you have owners who have no qualms about cheating. It’s complicated to maintain a level of excellence,”

The source also describes the ownership as cheating owners, reflecting the criticism directed at Manchester City after the Premier League ruling. The allegations have prompted broader debate about the credibility of titles won during the period under investigation.

Ian Wright calls for an unprecedented Manchester City punishment

Arsenal legend Ian Wright said players may have recognised that something was wrong even if they were not aware of what was taking place at board level.

“they were told that nothing bad was happening. But, as a player, you realize that something doesn’t add up”.

Wright called for a severe response from the Premier League, describing the case as an important test for the competition’s governance.

“An unprecedented sanction is required here. It is a crucial day for the Premier League. It is a very murky matter,”

The source also carries the description An unprecedented punishment is required. It’s a very murky affair in connection with Wright’s criticism. It separately references an internal Manchester City video reaction using the phrase It’s a conspiracy, without providing further details about the video.

Wayne Rooney rejects retrospective Premier League medal

Wayne Rooney, who was playing for Manchester United when Manchester City won the 2011–12 Premier League title, said he would not want the championship awarded to United retrospectively if City were ultimately sanctioned.

“To be honest, I wouldn’t feel comfortable accepting another Premier League medal, because I don’t think we deserve it. We didn’t do enough that season to win the Premier League,”

Rooney said the situation would be devastating for players who had competed honestly but were unaware of decisions made in the boardroom.

“I think about their players: they are there doing everything possible to win the Premier League title and, in their minds, they have already achieved it. And if those players have no knowledge of what is happening in the boardrooms, then—if it happened to me, if Manchester United had suddenly done the same and they took away my Premier League medals—I would be absolutely devastated”.

He added:

“They could take them away, but I wouldn’t want that, because I don’t feel that as a team we deserved them that year, since obviously we didn’t finish first,”

The source also includes a quoted reaction attributed to David de Gea: Let’s talk. How many Premier titles have I won, then? It does not provide additional context for that comment.

Why This Matters

The Manchester City case has implications beyond one club’s potential punishment. The Premier League’s allegations concern whether commercial agreements were structured to increase reported revenue and enable additional spending under financial controls. Any final sporting or financial sanctions could influence how historical titles, player achievements and competitive fairness are viewed.

The reactions from Roy Keane, Ian Wright and Wayne Rooney also highlight the difference between responsibility at ownership and boardroom level and the position of players who may not have known about alleged financial arrangements. The next significant issue is how the Premier League’s findings translate into sanctions and whether those measures affect Manchester City’s records or past competitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Manchester City found guilty of?

According to the source, Manchester City was found guilty of 114 of 115 charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial rules over nine seasons. The allegations included sham commercial agreements and the artificial inflation of club revenue.

What did Roy Keane say about Manchester City’s medals?

Roy Keane said he would throw away his medals if he had been a Manchester City player during the period affected by the alleged financial breaches because he considered the club’s success to have involved cheating.

Would Wayne Rooney accept Manchester United being awarded the 2011–12 title?

No. Wayne Rooney said he would not feel comfortable accepting another Premier League medal because he did not believe Manchester United had done enough to win the title that season.