LINEKER URGES MAN CITY TO ACCEPT PUNISHMENT OVER FINANCIAL BREACHES
Read Time:2 Minute, 31 Second
By: Fasasi Hammad
Former England captain Gary Lineker has urged Manchester City to accept any punishment imposed on the club following findings that they breached Premier League financial regulations more than 100 times, saying it would be in the best interest of the game.
An independent commission ruled last week that City had entered into “sham” agreements with several commercial partners in an effort to artificially increase their revenues and lower costs over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018.
Manchester City, who have consistently denied any wrongdoing, confirmed on Friday that they had appealed the commission’s judgment.
The club are yet to learn their punishment, with possible sanctions including a significant points deduction, a fine or even expulsion from the Premier League.
Speaking on Wednesday at Leaders Week London 2026 at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, Lineker said the findings had created a damaging situation for both Manchester City and English football.
“Obviously, it looks really bad for Manchester City, and bad for the game, too,” the 65-year-old said.
He added that the allegations made it difficult to sustain claims that the Premier League was targeting the club.
“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’,” Lineker said.
The former striker called on City to acknowledge the findings and accept whatever punishment is eventually handed down.
“I’d love to see Man City now just own it and just say, ‘OK, we got it wrong but for the good of the game, we’ll accept it and we’ll accept whatever punishment comes our way and we’ll carry on’.
“That would be a blessing and save their face a little bit at the moment, although it doesn’t look likely.”
Asked whether City should be stripped of the three Premier League titles they won during the period under investigation, Lineker said he would not be surprised if such a decision was eventually made.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes down that route. But who suffers from that? The players and the fans,” he said.
Former City defender Kyle Walker, who spent eight years at the club before leaving in 2025 and won several major trophies during his time there, said the players would always cherish their achievements regardless of what happens.
Speaking on Talksport, the Burnley right-back said the issue was difficult because the players wanted their success to be recognised as having been achieved fairly.
“It’s something that we probably don’t want to talk about because we want to be looked upon as winning those trophies and winning them the right way,” Walker said.
“It’s very difficult because we’ve worked very hard for them, and not just us. I look at the fans that have travelled up and down the country, travelled abroad to Istanbul when we won the treble, and they deserve that night as well.”
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