Manchester City, one of the world’s biggest sporting clubs, has been found guilty by the English Premier League of 114 breaches of its financial rules. The amount in question is close to a staggering £1 billion (A$1.9 billion).

Dyed-in-the-wool fans are acutely sensitive to slights against their teams. So, when caught up in a major sport controversy, their response is often visceral.

Sport communication researchers describe a process of “moral uncoupling” through which those fans who identify most deeply with their team separate themselves from its most troubling transgressions when experiencing “collective shame”.

While some Manchester City fans say they accept there might have been wrongdoing and are “devastated”, “angry” and “sad”, many passionate supporters find forgiveness easily for their team while not extending this understanding to competitors.

The saga and the fallout

The Sky Blues are majority-owned by Abu Dhabi United Group through its City Football Group subsidiary, along with ten other clubs (one in partnership) around the world, including Melbourne City.

Much has been written about the financial and legal implications of this long-running scandal. Manchester City’s owners deny wrongdoing and have appealed against the ruling.

But what about the dedicated fans who shell out for........

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