Jamie Carragher has publicly argued that Manchester City ought to have all the trophies they secured during the period in which they were adjudged guilty of financial violations taken away, and that the club's proprietors should be ousted from their positions. An independent commission has concluded that City breached Premier League financial regulations in a serious manner, finding the club culpable on every charge. Despite these findings, the organization continues to deny any wrongdoing.
Chief executive Ferran Soriano dismissed the investigation 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, 2 October, to lodge the appeal. The sanctions relate to a span of nine seasons, from 2009/10 through 2017/18, a period in which Manchester City amassed an impressive haul: three Premier League crowns, one FA Cup, three League Cups and a Community Shield. "I do think Manchester City's titles they've won in this time, or trophies, should be taken off their list," Carragher told Sky Sports. While he is clear that the honors should be removed from City's record, he is less certain whether they should automatically be reassigned to the runners‑up in those competitions.
For Carragher, the core issue lies not in the redistribution of silverware but in the emotional damage inflicted on players, clubs and supporters who were denied a genuine sense of triumph. "Whether other clubs should get them is slightly different," he explained. "But what Manchester City have done is, they've not just hurt their own players in terms of no one looks at their trophies and medals now in the same way..." He reflected on his own experience of winning medals, noting that the physical award matters far less than the feeling that accompanies a hard‑fought victory.
"I never look at the medal years later. But my mind goes back to a moment, I get a feeling in my stomach. I remember the referee blowing a final whistle of a big game. Those players will never get that feeling and it was robbed by Manchester City.
That's what they haven't got. It's not about medals, it's about feelings, and that's what Manchester City have robbed." Carragher also stressed that while he anticipates punitive action against the club itself, the owners must bear personal responsibility. "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 whether the current owners could continue to operate within English football after the revelations. "We talk about a fit and proper test for owners.
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. When you see the statements – the one from [CEO Ferran] Soriano last night – it's beggars belief what you're hearing.
They have so much power and finance behind them, nobody ever tells them no. Until they move away from the club, I don't know how this stain is removed from the club." Despite acknowledging that Manchester City will likely rebuild and remain competitive in the future, Carragher doubts the longevity of the current ownership.
"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.
How can they be surprised? They've got irrefutable evidence – well where is it? Put it out there," he demanded.
He expressed both shock and a sense of inevitability regarding the outcome. "I'm shocked but also not surprised. I always felt they were guilty for two simple reasons.
It would be impossible for Man City ever to have the commercial revenue of Liverpool, Man Utd or Real Madrid. They said for years they had that type of income coming in. It's impossible for that to ever happen, no matter how successful Man City are.
And number two, as they said yesterday and have continually said over this period, 'they've done nothing wrong, they have irrefutable evidence'. Every man and his dog knows if you're charged by the police and had irrefutable evidence it would be over in a day or a week – this has dragged on for years. This idea that nothing has gone on and it has dragged on this long tells you something was there.
The reason I'm shocked is because I never believed the Premier League would be able to beat them in a court of law because of the power and finances Man City have behind them. A huge well done to the Premier League for the result it seems they have right now. For the Premier League to not just win this case but people talk about 114 charges out of 115 – they had to win it like that for it to be convincing." Carragher also reflected on the impact this scandal may have on the legacy of the club's most celebrated players from the era, as well as the current squad. He expressed sympathy for those athletes, many of whom have publicly defended the club despite the damning findings.
"I'd be furious and I actually feel for the Man City players," he said. "As a team, what they've done is wrong.
The Premier League have called it a sham five times in their statement." He singled out Kevin De Bruyne, describing him as "one of the greatest players I've ever seen" and noting that De Bruyne's talent would have shone at any top club. Yet Carragher worries that the controversy could cast a permanent asterisk over De Bruyne's decade‑long tenure at City.
"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, I'd be furious. Absolutely furious that around the world people are looking at my career like that because of what's going on upstairs," Carragher lamented. He warned that the club's leadership has been "gaslighting" players, former players and supporters, exploiting the strong emotional bonds they share. Over time, Carragher predicts that support from former City stars will erode, replaced by growing frustration as their achievements are increasingly viewed through the lens of the financial scandal.
In his view, the true victims are not just the rival clubs but the countless fans and footballers whose moments of glory have been tainted by what he describes as a profound breach of sporting integrity. In summary, Jamie Carragher calls for a comprehensive response: removal of the disputed titles from Manchester City's record, a thorough investigation into the owners' conduct, and, if necessary, the disqualification of those owners from football governance. He believes that only by addressing both the club's accolades and the people at its helm can the sport restore faith and ensure that future triumphs are earned within the rules of the game.