Paul Merson has said the titles Manchester City won between 2009 and 2018 should be 'wiped straightaway' after the club was found guilty of all charges related to breaches of the Premier League's financial rules over that nine-season period.
The footballing world was rocked last Friday as reports – which have since been confirmed – circulated that a verdict had been made following a comprehensive four-year investigation into City's financial practices. The eight-time English champions continue to deny any wrongdoing and have until October 2 to submit an appeal. Premier League teams were informed that a decision had been reached last Thursday, 24 hours before the news first emerged in the media.
Sham contracts and hidden funding
City were found to have arranged 'sham contracts' with several commercial partners as part of a scheme to disguise secret funding in excess of £830million. During their title-winning seasons in 2011/12, 2013/14 and 2017/18, City recorded a total of £360m in sponsor fees – and only £43m of that sum was legitimate, with the remainder coming from their owners.
Asked what kind of punishment would be 'fitting' for City, ex-Arsenal, Aston Villa and England midfielder Merson told Sky Sports: 'First of all, take all their trophies away. I think that's the first thing.
'It's not because of us, it's our childrens' childrens' children in 50, 60 or 70 years' time, if you look through and see that Manchester City dominated, it's not going to say underneath that they were guilty of anything so I think that's got to be taken off.
'I'm not saying to go and give those titles to whoever finished second because I think that's a real kick in the teeth in itself if you go and do that.
'But I think that's got to be wiped. For me, in my opinion, that's got to be wiped off the face that they dominated it by doing what they were doing.
'And rightly so you should dominate football if you're getting that big an advantage.
'I'd expect to be dominating football, even with me as the manager!'
Impact on Arsenal
When asked what Arsene Wenger may have been able to do at Arsenal with £60-80m extra money each season, Merson responded: 'I'm not just saying this because it's Arsenal but at the same time, they were buying Arsenal's best players and made it even worse.
'Arsene Wenger was trying to make something happen, build a stadium and then trying to be successful… and City are doing what they're doing and then they're buying Arsenal's best players and taking them to City.
'So that makes Arsenal even weaker! For me, straightaway it would be that [taking the title away].'
City's response and Premier League reaction
City have said they are 'disappointed' and 'surprised' by the verdict, citing 'clear material errors' ahead of their impending appeal.
'Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today,' a statement on the club's official website read.
'The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case. The club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.
'The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe.
'The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.
'The club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete.'
The Premier League's chief executive Richard Masters, meanwhile, stated: 'The core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period. It details how the club systematically broke Premier League rules for nearly a decade.
'It also vindicates the Premier League's decision to pursue this case against Manchester City. While the process to date has been both long and difficult, the League has remained determined that the facts be established independently.
'It is a key responsibility of the Premier League to ensure that the rules, approved by the clubs themselves, are upheld to protect the integrity of the competition. It is paramount that the League remains competitive and fair for all clubs and for the fans. We take that role extremely seriously.
'This disciplinary case, and this decision, are the most significant in Premier League history. There are elements of the case that remain to be decided, including, importantly, what sanction must follow for these breaches.
'Now we have the Commission's decision, we are committed to moving swiftly through the remainder of the process, to provide certainty for the League, our clubs and fans.'
