REUTERS/Phil Noble
Paul Scholes has hit out at Martin Keown after the former Arsenal player suggested one potential punishment for Manchester City.
City have launched an official appeal after they were found guilty of all 115 charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules.
The eight-time Premier League winners are at serious risk of being hit with unprecedented and historic punishments, including expulsion from the top-flight, if their appeal fails.
It’s also being reported that the EFL would decline to grant City admission to any of its divisions, while the requirement that City’s owners, directors and executives are removed from their positions could also be imposed, according to journalist Duncan Castles.
City currently top the 2026-27 Premier League table after winning all five of their opening fixtures, but the players and coaching staff are expected to receive a hostile reception when they play their first match since the guilty verdict away at Liverpool’s Anfield on Sunday.
Man City corner flag
Man City corner flag
Scholes Among Ex-Players to Comment on City's Guilty Verdict
Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes
In the meantime, various former players and coaches have voiced their frustration after City’s guilty verdict was made public.
Ex-Premier League manager Tony Pulis says he feels “cheated” after Man City beat his Stoke City side in the 2011 FA Cup final - a game he describes as the biggest of his life.
While former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea wrote on X (Twitter): "So...... Let's talk. How many Premier League titles have I won then?"
De Gea’s ex-United teammate Paul Scholes wrote on Instagram: "Keep hearing ex-teammates say they want trophies taken off them, but they don't want their medals... f*** that, I'm a greedy b******, I want my medal."
Scholes has won more Premier League medals (11) than every other player in history, except for Ryan Giggs (13), but would still accept a 12th medal if City’s 2011-12 title was handed to Man Utd.
Keown: City's Title Seasons Should be 'Void'
martin keown
Speaking on talkSPORT this week, Martin Keown responded: “Receiving another medal is a bit hollow. How many does he need? He’s got a dozen or so already, but I can’t tell him how to behave or think.
“For me, I just think it should be void. I think if we’re going to take away Man City’s trophies throughout that period it should be made void.”
Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan added: “I was always thought Paul Scholes was a very balanced individual who made sensible points. Maybe his experience in management at Oldham has corrupted his thinking because all of a sudden he’s got a podcast and he feels that he and Nicky [Butt] have got to say controversial things. I think he’s a bit better than that, really.” Watch the clip:
Scholes Responds to Keown and Simon Jordan
Ed Sykes via Reuters
Scholes has now issued a response to both Keown and Jordan.
To Jordan, Scholes wrote on Instagram: “Pot, Kettle, Black, Simon”.
And to Keown, the legendary midfielder added: “And you can do one with that ‘void season’ nonsense.”