Gary Lineker has said it would not surprise him if Manchester City are stripped of Premier League titles following their guilty verdict on 114 financial breaches. Speaking at Leaders Week London 2026 at Stamford Bridge, the former striker insisted any punishment "has to be, obviously, severe" because of the number of offences involved.
City are contesting the independent panel's verdict, but a sanctions hearing has begun. Possible penalties include a substantial fine, a transfer embargo, a points deduction or expulsion from the Premier League. Stripping titles won between 2009 and 2018 has also been suggested, though it is considered improbable.
Lineker calls for City to accept punishment
Lineker said: "It looks really bad for Manchester City. It really does. 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."
He added: "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 will suffer
Lineker said the ultimate sufferers would be players and fans, drawing a parallel with the European ban that cost him playing in the European Cup for Everton. "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.
City have already overturned a Champions League ban from UEFA and will try to do the same with this verdict. The Premier League confirmed the findings just over a week ago, though City reportedly learned of the outcome over the summer and still spent around £400million on transfers.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United, who retained the legal right to pursue compensation, were among the first clubs reportedly informed, with the other 15 Premier League clubs notified shortly after. City face Liverpool at Anfield this coming Sunday, where a hostile reception is anticipated.
