Ander Herrera has spoken candidly about the lasting impact of Manchester City's alleged decade-long rule violations, saying the damage inflicted on rivals — including his former club Manchester United — cannot be undone.

The former Manchester United midfielder, who spent six seasons at Old Trafford, expressed deep frustration over Premier League titles he believes were unfairly decided during the period in which City are accused of committing more than 100 financial rule breaches.

A title race that felt stolen

Herrera's comments reflect the anger felt by many players and supporters connected to clubs who finished behind Manchester City during that era. For a player who gave his best years to Manchester United, the possibility that those near-misses came in a compromised competition is a bitter pill to swallow.

Manchester City are currently facing a Premier League independent commission hearing over charges relating to alleged financial misconduct spanning from 2009 to 2018. City deny all charges.

Wider implications for the league

The case has reignited debate across English football about the integrity of the Premier League over the past 15 years. Several clubs, their former players, and supporters have raised questions about whether title winners from that period should be reconsidered if City are found guilty.

Herrera stopped short of calling for titles to be redistributed, but his language was unambiguous — describing the harm done to the competition as irreparable, a word that carries enormous weight when spoken by someone who competed at the highest level during those years.

For African fans of the Premier League, who have followed every twist of this long-running saga, the case raises profound questions about fair play in the world's most-watched football league. The outcome of the independent commission's ruling is set to be one of the most consequential decisions in English football history.