Manuel Akanji Fears Manchester City Sanctions Could Cost Him Titles
Manchester City have appealed after an independent commission found the club guilty of more than 100 financial-rule breaches, with former defender Manuel Akanji now worried that the honours he won at the Etihad could be affected.
Akanji, currently with Inter Milan, said he is following the case from a distance and remains reliant on assurances he received while at City. The Switzerland international joined the club in 2022, after the period covered by the allegations.
Quick facts
- Manchester City were found guilty of more than 100 financial breaches.
- The alleged irregularities cover the period from 2009 to 2018.
- City have submitted an appeal against the commission’s decision.
- Akanji won two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League with City.
- City return to Premier League action away to Liverpool this weekend.
The defender said he still speaks to several former team-mates but has no inside information beyond the public reporting. He said players had been told to remain calm, with the club insisting the situation was under control and that there was no major issue.
Akanji said he trusts the people running City, but admitted he hopes he does not lose the trophies collected during his spell in Manchester. He added that he is seeing developments through the news as well and cannot know whether further evidence could emerge.
The case concerns alleged breaches dating from 2009 to 2018, four years before Akanji arrived from Borussia Dortmund. Any retrospective punishment, however, could have wider consequences for the club’s record during the period under scrutiny.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said City had repeatedly broken league regulations across almost a decade. Masters said enforcing rules agreed by the clubs was essential to safeguarding the competition’s integrity.
City’s appeal now takes centre stage. The final process will decide whether the club face sanctions including the possible removal of past titles, or another punishment.
For now, City must prepare for a major on-field test at Liverpool when the Premier League resumes this weekend.
