Rodri speaks out with a surprising opinion on Man City 115 charges decision
Former Manchester City midfielder Rodri has shared his thoughts on the recent Premier League ruling, saying he believes the club is innocent despite being found guilty of most of the 115 financial rule violations they faced.
On Friday, September 25, City was found guilty of 114 out of 115 charges related to breaking Premier League financial rules. According to The Athletic, the penalties haven’t been decided yet, and City could face a heavy fine, a points deduction, or even relegation. The club plans to appeal the decision.
Rodri, who played 298 games for City between 2019 and 2026 and now plays for Barcelona, still trusts his old club. Speaking before Spain’s Nations League game against England, the 30-year-old said, “They always say they didn’t do anything wrong, and I believe that. Until proven otherwise, we trust the club. They always show confidence in their innocence.”
He also reminded everyone that in 2020, City was cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport after UEFA had initially banned them from European competitions. “Back then, the process was similar, and in the end, nothing happened,” he said. “We went through a similar situation, and even though the first verdict was guilty, we trusted the club’s innocence, and they were eventually cleared. I believe in justice and the club’s innocence.”
City was first charged in February 2023, with the case later passed to an independent commission. The charges cover the years 2009 to 2018, during which City won three Premier League titles (2012, 2014, 2018), three League Cups, a Community Shield, and an FA Cup.
When asked if City could lose those titles, Rodri said, “What we achieved can’t be taken away. It wasn’t bought with money but earned through hard work, struggles, and being united every day. I’m proud to have been part of one of the best times in English football.”
After the verdict, City released a statement saying the process is still ongoing and some parts are confidential. They said, “The Club has respected due process for eight years, trusting that the Premier League would be fair and impartial.”
Since the charges were made public in 2023, City has strongly denied any wrongdoing and said they have solid evidence to support their defense.
The charges include:
– Not providing honest financial information from 2009/10 to 2017/18 – 54 breaches
– Not cooperating with the Premier League’s investigation from December 2018 to February 2023 – 35 breaches
– Not giving full details of manager and player pay during certain years – 14 breaches
– Breaking Premier League profitability and sustainability rules from 2015/16 to 2017/18 – 7 breaches
– Not following UEFA rules, including Financial Fair Play, from 2013/14 to 2017/18 – 5 breaches
Rodri and many at the club remain hopeful that justice will be served and that City’s reputation will be cleared.