Man City’s players are crumbling under the guilt of £1billion financial ‘sham’ – even footballers don’t live in a vacuum

Chief sports reporter Martin Lipton argues that Manchester City's recent on-field slump is being caused by the psychological burden of an independent commission's guilty verdict regarding financial charges. Following a 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest, Enzo Maresca's side suffered their third consecutive Premier League loss, which Lipton believes reflects players questioning whether their current season will ultimately matter amidst looming sanctions.

Lipton notes that City originally reacted with defiance, winning 3-0 against Liverpool shortly after the findings involving nearly £1 billion in disputed contracts. However, he dismisses fan theories regarding commission bias and suggests the squad is now struggling to perform under the weight of potential unprecedented penalties and the ongoing appeal process.