Rio Ferdinand leads reaction to Man City's 115 breaches case: 'Another Premier League medal'

The football world has been reacting to reports that a decision on Manchester City's longstanding legal battle with the Premier League over an alleged 115 breaches of financial regulations may be right around the corner. 

City are expected to be found guilty on the vast majority of charges of financial breaches in their legal case with the Premier League, a source has confirmed to ESPN.

In a statement, City didn't deny the verdicts and said that the process "remains ongoing."

When contacted by ESPN on Friday, the Premier League said they wouldn't comment on a "private and confidential process."

Friday's reports have given fresh impetus to speculation that City could be in line for a hefty punishment, with some hoping the major honours they won during the period covered by the investigation (2009-2018) could be redistributed to their beaten foes. 

David de Gea, who was part of the Manchester United team that finished as runners-up when City racked up 100 points in 2017-18, wrote in a post on X: "So... Let's talk. How many Premier League titles have I won then?"

His former United teammate Rio Ferdinand posted: "Another premier league medal to be added to the cabinet."

Rodri, who left City for Barcelona this summer, said he believes "everything was deserved." Rodri joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2019, one year after the end of the period in which the charges relate.

"When you live daily at that club, all the people that worked hard all these years to have the success we had, Pep, the owners, all the guys who worked on it, they can't take that from us. It's something that isn't paid for with money, it's effort, partnership, standing shoulder to shoulder," he told a news conference ahead of Spain's Nations League match against England.

"We had a lot of success, here at Wembley, and I can tell you that everything was deserved."

José Mourinho has said in 2024 that he was still hopeful he could become a Premier League champion with United if City are found guilty.

"We finished second in the Premier League," Mourinho said at a news conference during his time at Fenerbahce. "I think we still have a chance to win that league because maybe they punish Man City with points and maybe we win that league and they have to pay me the bonus and give me the medal."

Jürgen Klopp, whose Liverpool team regularly went toe-to-toe with Guardiola's City in more recent years, said in 2025 that he would throw a party on the island of Mallorca should the Premier League strip City of their titles.

Information from ESPN's Alex Kirkland contributed to this story.