Jamie Carragher has said Manchester City should face a punishment lasting several years if their appeal against breaking Premier League financial rules fails. An independent commission found the club guilty in a report released last week, and City have appealed the decision.
Carragher's proposed sanction
The former Liverpool defender, speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate with Sky Bet, argued that a points deduction covering a single season would not be enough. He said: "If the people talk about (a penalty of) 80 points or 100 points, but that's just over one season that gets you relegated and then you come back again."
Carragher added: "And I think players, a few of them would leave, but I think some of them would say, 'I could put up with that for a year'. But I think, because this has gone on for so long, I do think the punishment should be over a number of years, three to five years, and then players would move on."
He also highlighted the financial consequences, saying: "You've then got the financial aspect of how City would be able to afford the wages of those players if they haven't got Premier League money. And you can only spend the money that you bring in. They'll have to abide by it now!"
City's upcoming clash with Liverpool
City return to action on Sunday when they face Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League. Former City defender and manager Stuart Pearce said the atmosphere would be intense, telling the outlet: "The opposition, they'll be rolling their sleeves up. The atmosphere in the stadiums is going to be red hot. It's unbelievable it happens to be Liverpool this weekend. It's going to be electric."
Former City midfielder Nico Gonzalez, who joined Newcastle United from City at the end of August for a reported fee of up to £52m, admitted to Sky Sports News: "It's hard for me because I have mixed emotions. I really want them to succeed, not only my old team-mates but people that work there. I had a year and a half there and I built so many connections and so many relationships."
Waiting for sanctions
Liverpool, Everton and City's other Premier League rivals are waiting to learn what sanctions City will receive. The Premier League said in a statement on September 29: "Now that the charges have been proved, the issue of sanction will be addressed separately in a further hearing with the independent Commission. In accordance with Premier League rules, that hearing will remain private and confidential until such a time as publication of the outcome is permitted."
The statement added: "The club has the right to appeal the independent Commission’s findings and has until Friday 2 October to exercise that right. The Premier League Board’s intention is that the full process (including any appeals and publication of relevant decisions) is concluded as soon as possible."
City, who maintain their innocence, have appealed against the initial independent commission's decision.
