Fourteen days have passed since the Premier League confirmed that Manchester City were found guilty of the majority of the 115 financial charges brought against them — and for many supporters, the emotional rollercoaster shows no sign of stopping.

"It's been one of the longest weeks of my life," said Steven McInerney, a 41-year-old City fan from Manchester. "My mood's varied between doomscrolling and catastrophising to suddenly feeling quite defiant and thinking this is just football."

The club continue to deny all charges and are appealing the decision, meaning the outcome — and any potential sanctions — remains unknown. Possible penalties include a substantial fine, a points deduction, transfer bans, or even expulsion from the Premier League.

Unwavering loyalty

For Rachel Herdson, a season ticket holder since 1989 from Altrincham, her allegiance has not wavered for a moment. "Last Friday, when I went to bed, I was a Manchester City fan. I woke up a City fan. And guess what? Even after the bombshell, the Premier League statement, I am still a City fan," she told BBC Sport.

She draws some comfort from the club's decision to appeal, but acknowledges the damage already done. "Don't get me wrong — I am not doing cartwheels, because the club's name is being tarnished," she said. "And I think even if we go to the High Court and win any sort of appeal, it'll still be tarnished."

Herdson also lamented that the controversy threatens to obscure genuine on-pitch achievements. "In all this, it's being lost what some of the achievements were. The likes of Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva... what they won in the game."

She added, with characteristic resolve: "This is my club. I love this club. And if the worst happens and our next derby is against Altrincham, I'll be there like I always have been."

A show of defiance at Anfield

City return to action after the international break with a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool, travelling to one of English football's most hostile grounds at a deeply turbulent moment in the club's history.

In response, fan groups are organising what they are calling an "old-school away day," urging the 3,000-strong travelling contingent to wear retro shirts and bring inflatable bananas — an icon of City fan culture dating back to the 1980s.

"The fans have been through some dark times and we got through it with humour," said season ticket holder Dave Wilson, who plans to be at Anfield. "City fans won't hide from our football club and whatever ends up happening, we — as fans — will do it in our unique way."

The gesture is intended to signal that the club's identity will not be defined by the events of the past decade or more.

The next generation

Rylan Vernon, 18, was born in Manchester in 2008 and has known only success — his personal high point being City's Treble in 2022-23. For him, the situation is clear-cut. "Nothing's confirmed yet, but I'll back my team whenever. City for life. Even if we did go down, we'd come straight back up," he said.

Vernon is also unconvinced by the charges themselves. "The rules were put in place by big teams so no-one else could get a chance to become a big team. And now that someone has, who was little, they're trying to do them for financial fair play."

On the pitch, life goes on

City travel to Anfield sitting top of the Premier League, and official supporters' club representative Kevin Parker believes the squad will handle the occasion professionally. "The players are professionals — they will get on with it," he said. "Anfield is always a hostile atmosphere. This issue has been hanging over us like the sword of Damocles over the last eight years. Their fans will be singing songs and chanting things but that doesn't bother us."

For now, City fans face a long wait. The appeal outcome and any sanctions remain unresolved — and the uncertainty, as McInerney put it, continues to change "every few seconds."