Gary Lineker has predicted that Manchester City could lose their Premier League titles as punishment for their rule breaches. The Premier League revealed the findings of the independent panel last Tuesday, with City found guilty of all financial charges.
City have lodged an appeal against the decision, with the outcome of that expected to arrive in January. Simultaneously, a hearing into their potential sanctions will take place, with a significant points deduction to essentially relegate them from the Premier League.
Lineker urges City to 'own it'
A hefty fine and transfer ban are also punishments that can be implemented, but Lineker has stated he would not be shocked if the stripping of Premier League titles is the route taken and that club chiefs should stop fighting to try and prove their innocence.
"It looks really bad for Manchester City," he said at Leaders Week London 2026 at Stamford Bridge. "When they talk about the Premier League conspiracy theories, you just think to yourself, well, this is actually the last thing in the world that the Premier League would want."
"So, I'd love to see City now just own it and just say, 'OK, we got it wrong but for the good of the game, we'll accept it, accept whatever punishment comes our way and we'll carry on.' That would be a blessing and they could save their face a little bit. At the moment that doesn't look very likely. But it is damaging. I wouldn't be surprised if it goes down the route of titles being stripped."
Players and fans to suffer
"Ultimately, who suffers from that? Players and fans. It's going to be one of those punishments, and it has to be, obviously, severe, because we are talking about a lot of offences," he said.
"So it's going to be difficult, and everyone will have a different idea of what this should be. It's not something I've really experienced very often in my career. I remember when English clubs were banned from Europe, and it cost me playing in the European Cup for Everton. So, again, players will suffer from this, and that's that."
City's transfer spending and next steps
City have already successfully overturned a Champions League ban imposed by UEFA and will be aiming to replicate that outcome with this ruling. Just over a week has passed since the Premier League announced the findings from the eight-week hearing that concluded in late 2024.
It has subsequently emerged that City were actually made aware of the verdict over the summer and still proceeded to splash out around £400million in the transfer market. Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United, who all reserved the legal right to seek compensation, were the next parties reportedly informed of the decision, with the remaining 15 Premier League clubs notified afterwards.
City are set to take on one of those sides in Liverpool this Sunday, with an intensely hostile reception expected to greet them at Anfield.
