Man City Fans Boo Anthems After Verdict

Fans at the Etihad booed the Premier League anthem hours after Manchester City were found guilty of breaching financial rules. The outburst came during Saturday’s first home game since the guilty verdict, following 115 charges first announced in February 2023. Season‑ticket holder Dave Wilson said the boos have been a fixture for years but peaked because of the verdict. Everton’s own protest last year saw fans chant ‘corrupt’ and boo the league anthem. That followed a ten‑point deduction that was reduced to six on appeal. City supporters also recall UEFA fines – £17,000 for a Balotelli complaint and £24,000 for a late return. A £49 million penalty in 2014 for Financial Fair Play breaches was later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Despite the noise, City sit top of the Premier League, unbeaten in seven matches. They head into a difficult trip to Aston Villa on Saturday. Nick Clarke, interim chair of the Citizens Trust, says the booing is organic. He expects it to continue until the appeal is resolved.