Man City’s Players Struggling with Guilt Over £1 Billion Financial ‘Scandal’

November 10, 2026 sportnow The clucking in the background resembles the sound of Manchester City’s difficulties coming home to roost.

Enzo Maresca was searching for silver linings on Saturday after his team suffered its third consecutive Premier League defeat at Nottingham Forest.

It’s hardly shocking that City is enduring their worst league streak in two years, especially as the initial fury over the independent commission’s guilty verdict regarding financial charges has given way to a sobering awareness of the club’s precarious situation.

In fact, the last time they lost three matches in a row was two years ago, just as the proceedings that led to this ruling were commencing.

After all, City’s earlier streak of seven consecutive wins included two VAR decisions that went their way.

The first was the accurate reversal of a stoppage-time offside call against Josko Gvardiol during the opening weekend victory against Bournemouth.

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Then, incorrectly, they permitted Erling Haaland’s winner in the Manchester derby to stand.

When City silenced the critics at Anfield with a decisive 3-0 victory, following the disclosure of nearly £1 billion in “sham” contracts — a move fueled by a desire to prove a point — it seemed as if everything was back to normal.

Inside the Etihad, there were no immediate indications of a backlash. In fact, their determination appeared even more robust.

A united group, ready to confront the world. A classic siege mentality.

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There’s nothing inherently wrong with that.

Nevertheless, despite the club’s vigorous response, with the return of inflatable bananas and a willingness to embrace the challenge, Maresca’s players remain human.

While some traveling supporters donned sky blue shirts featuring ‘Cheetos’ to mock Forest fans and others, it was the City Ground that ultimately had the last laugh.

If even the slightest doubts start to creep into the minds of Maresca’s squad about whether their efforts this season matter, especially with the prospect of unprecedented sanctions looming, it’s hard to believe that won’t affect their performances.

This doesn’t diminish or negate City’s right to defend themselves. To appeal. To contest. To unleash their legal experts in a courtroom battle.

It would indeed be strange, given the club’s stance since the initial batch of leaked emails in 2018, to expect anything less, particularly now that they are fighting for their existence.

At the same time, that refusal has permitted some absurd conclusions to be drawn by the City fanbase.

The belief that the official anonymity of the three members of the independent commission indicates a conspiracy or collusion is utterly ridiculous.

Lord Pannick and the rest of City’s legal team are well aware of their identities.

They did not hide behind a curtain for 42 days during the hearings to conceal themselves.

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It is highly likely — considering the limited number of prominent legal experts — that these individuals have appeared in courtrooms previously, either opposing or alongside City’s legal team.

There’s a good chance they belong to the same exclusive Pall Mall clubs.

There is valid debate to be had regarding the lengthy timeline from the start of the investigation, through the charges and hearings, leading to this moment — and we still await the punishment and appeals.

However, the notion that the “regrettable” — as termed by the commission — delay in arriving at a judgment signifies a lack of confidence in the verdict is misguided; what would the response have been if the panel had hurriedly issued a ten-page decision within a few days?

For the record, this was a verdict rendered by a quasi-legal three-member commission, endowed with powers under the Arbitration Act of 1996, and not, as City contends, merely an “opinion”.

Some City fans have also voiced concerns over the confidentiality of the evidence-gathering process and the evidentiary requirement of a “balance of probability”.

However, the law stipulates that arbitration proceedings must be conducted strictly in private.

Additionally, the civil standard of proof, rather than the criminal standard of “beyond reasonable doubt”, applies here.

While the City players may not be fully aware of these nuances, it appears they are beginning to feel the weight of the situation.

It’s evident that even footballers don’t exist in a vacuum.