EPL: Man City players should throw medals away, says Keane

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has said Manchester City players should throw their medals away if the club is ultimately stripped of titles over financial-rule breaches.

Speaking ahead of England’s match against the Czech Republic on Tuesday , Keane said the achievements of City’s players during the period in question had been undermined by the alleged financial misconduct.

“If I was a player, I’d be 100% sticking those medals in the bin. Of course you would, it’s cheating,” Keane told ITV Sport.

“They won it on the pitch because cheating was going on.”

The Premier League has found Manchester City guilty of breaches of its financial rules relating to a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018. City continue to deny wrongdoing and plan to appeal the decision.

City won eight trophies during the period, including three Premier League titles.

Keane also criticised the club, saying: “They knew it would hurt a lot of people, but they’ve still done it.”

However, former Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney took a different view on whether United should receive titles retrospectively if City are stripped of them.

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Rooney was part of the United side that finished runners-up to City in the 2011-12 Premier League season.

Speaking on the Stick to United podcast, he said: “I wouldn’t feel comfortable about accepting another Premier League medal if I’m being honest, because I don’t think we deserve it.

“We didn’t do enough that season to win the league.”

Rooney added that he would understand the disappointment of City players who may not have known about activities taking place above them.

Sanctions against Manchester City have yet to be announced, with a possible punishment including the removal of Premier League titles. City are expected to appeal the ruling.

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