Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards says he was "absolutely devastated" after an independent commission found the club guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules.
The commission found that City arranged what it described as "sham contracts" with several commercial partners as part of a scheme to disguise more than £830m in funding.
Manchester City were found guilty of all charges relating to financial rule breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, as well as all but one charge concerning their failure to co-operate with the Premier League's investigation. The club continues to deny wrongdoing and has until 2 October to submit an appeal.
City won three Premier League titles during the nine-year period under investigation, with Richards part of the squad that dramatically secured the 2011-12 championship.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards described the findings as deeply troubling.
"The reports were troubling," Richards said. "I saw the words which were used by the Premier League in 'sham contracts' and I felt absolutely devastated."
Richards joined Manchester City at the age of 14 and went on to make more than 200 appearances for the club.
He said the verdict was particularly difficult because of his long-standing connection with City and the impact the uncertainty is having on supporters.
Richards revealed that the man he lived with during his academy days, a Manchester City supporter of more than 60 years, had called him in tears seeking answers.
"To have a headline of this nature for a club that I love so much, it's been difficult," Richards added. "If you listen to the reports, they are damning."
He said he felt saddened, angry and confused, particularly given Manchester City's continued rejection of the allegations.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has maintained the club's confidence that it can prove its innocence, while chief executive Ferran Soriano told staff and players that evidence presented by City had been ignored by the commission.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also reacted strongly to the verdict, raising concerns about how the findings could affect perceptions of City's achievements during the period.
City won their second Premier League title in 2013-14, finishing two points ahead of Liverpool after overtaking the Reds during the closing stages of the season.
Carragher said he sympathised with City's players, arguing they could now face questions over achievements they believed had been secured legitimately.
"The players were told everything was fine," Carragher said, before accusing City's hierarchy of "gaslighting" in their response to the verdict.
Carragher argued that City's titles during the relevant period should be removed from the club's record, although he questioned whether they should subsequently be awarded to other teams.
The 2013-14 campaign represented the closest Steven Gerrard came to winning the Premier League during his Liverpool career.
Carragher argued that retrospectively awarding medals or trophies could never recreate the experience players missed at the time.
"No-one remembers the medal," he said. "Giving trophies or medals back, it doesn't mean anything. It's not about medals, it's about feelings."
For Manchester City, attention now turns to the appeals process as the club continues to contest the commission's findings.
