Jamie Carragher has voiced a strong opinion that Manchester City should have the trophies they secured during the period in which they were adjudged guilty of financial rule violations stripped away, and that the club's owners ought to be removed from their positions. The independent commission that investigated the Premier League’s financial regulations concluded that City breached the rules on every count, a finding the club continues to reject. In a video addressed to players and staff, chief executive Ferran Soriano dismissed the investigation as a "Premier League conspiracy theory" and confirmed that the club will lodge an appeal by the deadline of 2 October. The alleged breaches span the years from the 2009/10 season through to 2017/18, a stretch in which Manchester City amassed 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 stopped short of saying those honours should automatically be handed to the runners‑up, he argued that the emotional reward of victory has been stolen from the players, clubs and supporters who were denied a fair competition.
Carragher explained that the significance of a medal lies not in the metal itself but in the feeling it represents. "I’ve been lucky enough to win a few medals, and I don’t look at them years later. The memory of the final whistle, the surge of adrenaline, that’s what stays with you. Those players will never get that feeling because it was robbed by Manchester City," he said.
He added that even if a stripped trophy were placed in a player’s trophy cabinet, it would never carry the same weight because the moment of triumph has been erased. Regarding the club’s leadership, Carragher was unequivocal: the owners must face consequences. "The club will be punished, but for me the real accountability lies with the owners, the people at the top.
They have wielded immense financial power for a decade and left a stain that will linger for another ten years," he asserted. He questioned how the owners could remain in English football after such a prolonged period of alleged misconduct, invoking the “fit and proper” test that governs club ownership.
"Until they step away, I don’t see how that stain can be removed," Carragher warned. He praised the Premier League’s persistence in pursuing the case, noting the sheer number of charges—114 out of 115—had to be proven to secure a credible verdict.
"I was shocked but not surprised. The club claimed they had irrefutable evidence, yet the investigation dragged on for years. That alone suggests something was amiss," he remarked. Carragher expressed admiration for the league’s ability to hold a financially dominant club to account, saying it was a significant achievement for the sport’s integrity.
The former Liverpool defender also reflected on the impact the scandal could have on the legacy of City’s star players. He singled out Kevin De Bruyne, describing him as "one of the greatest players I’ve ever seen," but lamented that the association with a club now tainted by financial wrongdoing could cast a shadow over his achievements. "If, at the end of his career, the world looks at his decade at Manchester City and calls it a sham, I would be furious," Carragher said. Carragher acknowledged that some current and former City players have defended the club, a reaction he described as understandable given their close ties to the organization.
However, he warned that continued denial could exacerbate frustration among those who feel their careers are being rewritten by events beyond their control. "The longer this goes on, the more we’ll see former players withdrawing support and questioning how history will judge their contributions," he predicted. In summary, Carragher’s stance is clear: Manchester City should lose the titles won during the period of financial impropriety, and the owners who oversaw that era should be removed from power. He believes the emotional essence of victory has been stolen, and that restoring fairness requires both punitive measures against the club and decisive action against its leadership.
The debate now shifts to whether the stripped honours will be reassigned to the runners‑up, but for Carragher, the primary issue is ensuring that the sport’s integrity is upheld and that those responsible for the alleged breaches face appropriate sanctions.