An independent commission is said to have found Manchester City guilty on 114 of 115 charges for breaches of financial rules, with an appeal now set to be launcged
Noel Gallagher on the pitch with Pep Guardiola after winning the title in 2018
Noel Gallagher on the pitch with Pep Guardiola after winning the title in 2018
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Noel Gallagher has urged Premier League bosses to not punish Manchester City supporters after a landmark verdict was reached on Friday.
City have been locked in a legal battle with the Premier League since 2024 over breaches of financial rules between 2009 and 2018. An independent commission has been deliberating on the 115 charges - of which City vehemently deny - for two years.
But it has now emerged that the eight-time title winners have been found guilty on all but one charge, with City set to appeal the verdict.
Depending on that appeal, it leaves City open to a variety of sanctions - ranging from fines and bans, all the way to points deductions and possibly expulsion from the top-flight.
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There is also the chance that City could be stripped of the titles won during the impacted years. But Oasis superstar Noel has said players and fans shouldn’t bear the brunt for what has happened off the pitch.
“A little surprised because only that the club has assured us all along that they would vehemently deny any of these charges,” he said on the Let Me Talk podcast.
“So it was a bit of a shock to find out we've been found guilty of all but one but really overall quite sad really, sad for the fans and for the players.
“Our focus as fans is always on the pitch and we know what we saw: they won it on the pitch. Whatever goes on in the boardroom it's nothing to do with the supporters or the players, the players won the game and won that [2011-12] title on the pitch.
Noel with Guardiola earlier this year
Noel with Guardiola earlier this year
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“Whether some of those players should have been there or not, that's nothing to do with the fans. We were there, we know what we saw.
“Does it taint it? I suppose in the eyes of everybody else in England it would but I know what I saw and I know what I felt.”
The Premier League have yet to officially confirm the result of the independent commission, but City did issue a statement shortly after the reports of the verdict leaked.
A statement read: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023.
“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
Noel and his brother Liam are two of the most famous City supporters and have recently announced a series of dates at the Etihad Stadium as part of their upcoming tour in 2027.
In response to a fan on social media, Liam said: “We’ll win the appeal and all the WET WIPES from other clubs begging for our titles need to sit down…embarrassing.”