Manchester City’s manager Enzo Maresca posted a cryptic message on social media reading “I know nothing” after the club was found guilty on virtually all counts of breaching Premier League financial rules.
News broke on Friday that City had been found guilty on almost all of more than 100 charges laid by the Premier League in February 2023, prompting reactions from various figures associated with the club. City have always denied all counts and are expected to appeal.
Noel Gallagher, a City fan, has described his “shock” at the news, while the club’s former chairman David Bernstein believes “money is not sufficient” in terms of a potential punishment. The culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, described the case as “unsettling” for football fans and is hopeful of a swift resolution.
On Saturday morning, Maresca was approached for comment about whether he is seeking reassurance from the club on their continued stance of innocence. The Guardian was sent by his representatives a screenshot of a quote by Socrates, the Greek philosopher, which Maresca posted on Instagram.
The quote reads: “The only thing I know is that I know nothing.” Maresca also wrote: “Time to breathe. Time to analyse. Time to learn.”
Speaking on the Let Me Talk podcast, the Oasis star Gallagher said: “A little surprised when I heard it on the radio. Surprised because only that the club have assured us all along that they vehemently denied any of these charges.
“So it was a bit of a shock to find out that we’ve been found guilty of all but one. But really overall just quite sad really. Sad for the fans and for the players.”
Asked if it changes the context of moments like Sergio Agüero’s title-winning goal in 2012, Gallagher added: “Our focus as fans is always on the pitch and we know what we saw – they won it on the pitch.
“Whatever goes on in the boardroom, it’s nothing to do with the supporters or the players. The players won that game and won that title on the pitch. 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.
“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.”
Bernstein, City’s chairman from 1998-2003, told Times Radio: “I felt absolutely awful, I felt in shock yesterday, actually. I think you’ve asked me on the programme because of my time as chair of City and the FA, but basically I’m a fan of Manchester City and have been a fan for 70 years.
“It’s really awful that this great period of success, which followed many years of being less successful, when I was chair I think I helped get the club out of a very difficult period and started the road to better things.
“But to see all this tarnished in this way is very sad, I feel particularly bad for the wonderful supporters of the club who’ve stayed with the club through thick and thin. It’s a pretty bad day I think for the fans in blue of Manchester.”
Asked what the correct punishment would be, Bernstein said: “First of all, the timing of this I think is crucial. This whole process has taken too long already. So the appeal process now has to be done quickly because you’ve got the club playing with this cloud over its head and it’s just not viable.
“The appeal process cannot go on for year after year, that would be a disaster. Not just for this particular case but for English football generally. The timing is crucial. I can’t give a view on the punishment. If they are found, after the appeal, guilty of 115 charges, my beloved club is going to face a very severe penalty.
“All I would say is that money is not sufficient, it would have to be something, unfortunately, more drastic than that.”
Nandy, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, said: “Most football fans will be feeling this is not a good moment for football as a whole and I think Manchester City fans will be feeling very anxious about what happens next. You’ll know this is a really longstanding investigation, it dates all the way back to allegations that begin in 2009. There is still a way to go with the investigation, Manchester City is contesting the charges.
“The football fans need to know the rules are applied fairly and consistently, they need to know they’re upheld and they need to know the right decision has been reached.
“We do have a way to go with this, it’s very unsettling for football fans and I hope that it can be resolved as swiftly as possible.”
Nigel Huddleston, who was shadow secretary of state for culture from 2025 to 2026, stated on X: “Whatever the next steps are, they must be conducted in an accelerated and more transparent manner or risk further damage to the reputation and integrity of English football and more unnecessary anxiety for millions of football fans.”
A City spokesperson said on Friday: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. 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 that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
