What Manchester City mean to rival fans: From the magic of Aguero to biggest scandal in Premier League history — SkimNews
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- Manchester City were found guilty by an independent commission on 114 of 115 breaches of financial rules, per the piece.
- The article traces City's history from pre-takeover "City-itis" — including their relegation as 1995-96 reigning champions — through the Abu Dhabi-funded era.
- Sergio Aguero's stoppage-time winner against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of 2011-12 sealed City's first title in 44 years and thrilled neutrals by denying Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United.
- Jamie Carragher wrote in March that City had become neutrals' favorites in their title race with Arsenal; the piece argues this was because City "weren't Arsenal" and their wins could be "explained away" as tainted.
- The piece argues the successes under Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini, and Pep Guardiola were "irredeemably compromised" by the financial breaches.
- The author warns this "corrosive" mindset — fans explaining away setbacks as cheating — will linger into City's post-punishment era.
Why it matters: The guilty verdict on 114 of 115 financial breaches confirms what English football has questioned since the Abu Dhabi takeover began. For neutrals who tolerated City as the lesser evil to Arsenal or United, the piece argues every past City triumph now carries an asterisk that will outlast any sporting punishment.
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