Jamie Carragher has taken a strong stance on the recent Premier League financial investigation, arguing that Manchester City should lose the trophies they collected while the club was found guilty of serious financial violations, and that the owners ought to be ousted from their positions. The independent commission that examined the case concluded that City breached Premier League financial regulations on every count. Despite this, the club continues to deny any wrongdoing.
Chief executive Ferran Soriano dismissed the findings as a "Premier League conspiracy theory" in a video addressed to players and staff, and the club has announced its intention to appeal the decision, with a deadline of Friday, October 2. Between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons, Manchester City amassed an impressive haul of silverware: three Premier League crowns, one FA Cup, three League Cups and a Community Shield. Carragher, who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, said he believes those honours should be removed from the club's record. "I do think Manchester City's titles they've won in this time, or trophies, should be taken off their list," he stated.
He stopped short of saying the honours should automatically be handed to the runners‑up, noting that the primary injustice lies in the emotional experience of winning. "The feeling at the time has been taken away from the players, clubs and fans by City's actions," Carragher explained. He emphasized that the loss is not about medals or trophies per se, but about the memories and emotions attached to those moments.
"I never look at the medal years later, but my mind goes back to the instant the referee blows the final whistle. Those players will never get that feeling, and it was robbed by Manchester City," he added.
Carragher also argued that the punishment should extend beyond the club itself to the owners who sit at the top of the hierarchy. "The club are going to get punished," he said. "You've got supporters, players, the club and owners. For me this is all about the owners, the people who are at the top of the club." He questioned how the owners could remain in English football after a decade of conduct that, in his view, has left a permanent stain on the club's reputation.
He invoked the "fit and proper" test for owners, suggesting that the evidence against City is overwhelming and that the owners' continued presence would be untenable. Carragher praised the Premier League for securing a decisive victory in the case, noting that 114 out of 115 charges were upheld. He expressed surprise that the league was able to prevail against a club with such financial clout, calling the outcome a "huge well done" for the governing body.
He highlighted two key reasons for his belief in City's guilt: the implausibility of their claimed commercial revenues compared with clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United or Real Madrid, and the persistent denial of wrongdoing despite what he described as "irrefutable evidence." Turning to the impact on individual players, Carragher expressed sympathy for the current squad and former stars whose careers may now be viewed through a tainted lens. He singled out Kevin De Bruyne, describing him as one of the finest talents of his generation, and lamented that the player's decade‑long service at City could be dismissed as a "sham" because of the financial scandal. Carragher warned that the ongoing narrative could cast a shadow over the achievements of players who had no control over the club's financial management. He also criticized the club's leadership for what he called "gaslighting" of players, ex‑players and supporters, suggesting that the owners are attempting to downplay the seriousness of the situation to maintain loyalty.
Carragher predicts that as the legal process drags on, more former City players may distance themselves from the club and voice frustration over how their legacies are being questioned. In summary, Carragher's position is clear: Manchester City should be stripped of the titles won during the period of financial breaches, and the owners should be removed from their roles to restore integrity to English football.
While the club plans to appeal the ruling, the former Liverpool and England defender believes that the damage to the club's reputation and the emotional loss experienced by players and fans cannot be remedied by medals alone. The ultimate goal, in his view, is to ensure that those responsible for the misconduct face appropriate consequences and that the sport's governing bodies uphold the principles of fairness and accountability.