Jamie Carragher has called for Manchester City to be stripped of the trophies they won during the period covered by the club’s financial breaches, while arguing that their owners should leave their positions.
City were found guilty by an independent commission of all charges relating to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules. The club denies the breaches and has confirmed it will appeal against the ruling, with a deadline of Friday October 2.
Between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons, Manchester City won three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, three League Cups and one Community Shield.
“I do think Manchester City’s titles they’ve won in this time, or trophies, should be taken off their list,” Carragher said.
The former Liverpool defender was less certain that the honours should automatically be awarded to the teams who finished behind City. He argued that the consequences extended beyond medals and official records, saying players and supporters had been denied the feeling associated with winning major matches.
“It’s not about medals, it’s about feelings, and that’s what Manchester City have robbed,” he said.
Carragher calls for Manchester City owners to leave
Carragher said the club should be punished, but placed particular responsibility on the ownership and senior leadership. He questioned how the owners could continue in English football after the commission’s findings and the club’s response.
“We talk about a fit and proper test for owners,” he said. “What they’ve done for 10 years – and left this stain that will be there for the next 10 years – it starts because they don’t like the word no.”
Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has described the process as a “Premier League conspiracy theory” in a video message to players and staff. The club has maintained its position and said it will appeal, while Carragher challenged City to produce the “irrefutable evidence” it has referred to.
“Until they move away from the club, I don’t know how this stain is removed from the club,” Carragher said. “City will move on – they will have great teams in the future. But I don’t see how the ownership can continue after what’s happened here and their reaction to it.”
He also expressed sympathy for City’s players, whose achievements could now be viewed differently as a result of the case. Carragher said former players who have defended the club may become increasingly frustrated about the effect on their careers and reputations.
“I’d be furious and I actually feel for the Man City players,” he said, highlighting Kevin De Bruyne as a player whose individual quality should not be questioned. But he added that players could feel their careers had been given “an asterisk” by events involving the club’s hierarchy.
“If he sits there at the end of his career now and the whole world looks at his Manchester City career of 10 years of service and look at it as a sham, and I keep using that word, that’s the word the Premier League used, I’d be furious,” Carragher said.
