NOEL GALLAGHER SPEAKS OUT ON MAN CITY VERDICT — ‘SAD FOR THE FANS AND THE PLAYERS’ AS CLUB PREPARE APPEAL

Noel Gallagher has urged the Premier League to think carefully about the impact on Manchester City supporters and players after reports claimed the club had been found guilty of 114 of 115 financial rule breaches.

An independent commission is said to have reached its verdict after a lengthy process surrounding alleged financial breaches between 2009 and 2018.

Manchester City have vehemently denied the charges and are expected to appeal the outcome.

The Premier League has yet to officially confirm the verdict, but reports of the decision emerged on Friday, with City subsequently issuing a statement insisting that the process remains ongoing.

The potential consequences are significant. Depending on the outcome of the appeal, City could face a range of sanctions, including fines, bans, points deductions and potentially expulsion from the Premier League.

There is also the possibility of titles being stripped from the club if sanctions ultimately affect the seasons covered by the case.

But Oasis star and lifelong City supporter Gallagher believes supporters and players should not be made to pay the price for events that allegedly took place away from the pitch.

Speaking on the Let Me Talk podcast, he admitted the reported verdict came as a shock.

“A little surprised because only that the club has assured us all along that they would vehemently deny any of these charges,” Gallagher said.

“So it was a bit of a shock to find out we’ve been found guilty of all but one but really overall quite sad really, sad for the fans and for the players.”

Gallagher argued that supporters remember what happened on the pitch rather than decisions made in the boardroom.

“Our focus as fans is always on the pitch and we know what we saw: they won it on the pitch,” he said.

“Whatever goes on in the boardroom it’s nothing to do with the supporters or the players, the players won the game and won that [2011-12] title on the pitch.”

He acknowledged that questions could be raised about the legitimacy of some of the circumstances surrounding those title-winning campaigns, but insisted that should not be placed on the fans.

“Whether some of those players should have been there or not, that’s nothing to do with the fans. We were there, we know what we saw,” Gallagher added.

“Does it taint it? I suppose in the eyes of everybody else in England it would but I know what I saw and I know what I felt.”

City insist process is still ongoing

Despite the reports of the commission’s verdict, the Premier League has not yet officially confirmed the outcome.

Manchester City released a statement shortly afterwards, reiterating the position they have maintained since the charges were announced.

“The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality,” the club said.

“As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023.

“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”

City are expected to launch an appeal, meaning the reported commission findings may not represent the final outcome of the long-running case.

Liam Gallagher delivers blunt appeal message

Noel is not the only Gallagher brother to react.

Liam Gallagher, another famous City supporter, responded to a fan on social media with a typically direct message about the club’s chances of overturning the verdict.

“We’ll win the appeal and all the WET WIPES from other clubs begging for our titles need to sit down…embarrassing,” he wrote.

The Gallagher brothers are among City’s most famous supporters and have also announced a series of Oasis dates at the Etihad Stadium as part of their upcoming 2027 tour.

For now, however, City’s legal battle continues — with the reported verdict followed by an appeal that could determine what consequences, if any, the club ultimately faces.