Danny Mills Calls Stripping Man City Titles a ‘Pointless’ Punishment Amid FFP Charges
Danny Mills on the Financial Fair Play Case Against Manchester City
Danny Mills shared his view with GOAL about why removing Manchester City's titles and taking away players' medals in their ongoing Financial Fair Play (FFP) case would serve no real purpose. The former defender considers such punishments “irrelevant” since the memories and achievements of those victories have already left a lasting impact.
Background of the FFP Allegations
Manchester City faces 115 charges related to alleged “sham” financial dealings between 2010 and 2018. An independent commission has upheld all but one charge, with a final decision expected by late January 2027. Speculation surrounds potential sanctions ranging from expulsion from the Premier League to significant points deductions, transfer bans, and hefty fines. Some voices even suggest erasing all trophies won during City's dominant period.
City’s Trophy Haul Since 2010
- FA Cup: 2011, plus three more since
- Premier League Titles: Eight
- Champions League: One
- League Cups: Seven
- UEFA Super Cup: One
- FIFA Club World Cup: One
Much of this success, including the historic treble in the 2022-23 season, was achieved under coach Pep Guardiola. Despite the allegations, City maintain their innocence and aim to clear their name as the investigation continues.
Mills Explains Why Stripping Titles Would Be Futile
“You can take titles away, irrelevant. You can take medals and trophies away from players, irrelevant. They’ve had those moments, they’ve had those days out, they’ve had those bonuses. You’ve had all the upside of that for a number of years.”
Mills pointed out the difficulty of deciding how much the club's earlier rule-breaking affected their later success. He suggested drawing a line at the end of 2018 because after that, the club’s financial base had grown substantially. Removing past trophies or medals wouldn’t undo the experiences or benefits players enjoyed. He compared it to trying to deny England their 1966 World Cup win decades after the fact – it simply wouldn't change what happened.
“Retrospective punishments are incredibly difficult. It’s how you sanction and sentence the club going forward. And again, that’s going to be incredibly complicated.”
Ongoing Proceedings and What Lies Ahead
The legal process continues, with City contesting the charges and seeking to avoid harsh sanctions. Meanwhile, manager Enzo Maresca and the squad remain focused on their current season, aiming for more trophies and points. Their next match is scheduled against Liverpool on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
