Caragher Demands Harsh Sanctions on Manchester City

An independent commission last week issued a scathing report condemning Manchester City for breaching the English Premier League’s financial fair play rules, a decision the club has appealed.

The commission concluded that the club inflated its revenues by more than £830 million ($1.1 billion) over nine seasons, from 2009-10 to 2017-18. Jamie Carragher believes that if the appeal fails, the sanctions should reflect the scale of these violations.

Speaking to the British Press Association (PA Media), the 48-year-old former player said, “If people talk about a penalty of deducting 80 or 100 points, that means relegation for just one season, followed by a return.”

The English former international added, “I think some players might leave, but others might say they can only endure it for one year.”

Carragher clarified, “But given that these breaches lasted for such a long time, I believe the punishment should span several years, from three to five, at which point players would leave the club.”

Manchester City return to competition this week when they face Liverpool, undoubtedly their most prominent rival for titles over the past decade and a half, in the Premier League next Sunday.