Gary Lineker warns Man City could lose Premier League titles
Gary Lineker has warned that Manchester City could face the ultimate humiliation of having their Premier League trophies taken away after being convicted on every financial accusation. The former top-flight forward believes the club should stop fighting the charges and accept their fate for the sake of the sport.
According to a report by the Mirror, City were found to have breached rules by an independent commission. The Manchester club has already appealed against the independent panel’s verdict, with the final outcome of that process scheduled to be announced in January.
Simultaneously, a separate hearing will decide the exact sanctions City will face. These potential punishments could range from a huge deduction of points that would effectively demote them from the division, to transfer bans and heavy financial penalties.
Lineker predicts severe sanctions
Speaking at the Leaders Week London 2026 event held at Stamford Bridge, Lineker admitted that he could see the Premier League taking the unprecedented step of stripping the club of their previous league crowns.
The former striker urged the Etihad hierarchy to take responsibility for their actions instead of pushing conspiracy theories about the league, arguing that accepting their fate would be a blessing.
Speaking at the conference in London, Lineker said:
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes down the route of titles being stripped.”
The former forward believes that admitting their mistakes would allow the club to save some dignity as they navigate the damaging fallout of the independent panel’s decision.
Speaking about how the club should handle the verdict, Lineker said:
“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.”
Players and fans will suffer
Lineker expressed deep sympathy for the current squad and the supporters, noting that they are the ones who will ultimately bear the brunt of any severe sanctions imposed on the club.
He compared the situation to his own playing days, when British teams were barred from continental competition, which ultimately cost him the chance of representing Everton in the European Cup.
Reflecting on who will carry the burden of the punishment, Lineker said:
“Ultimately, who suffers from that? Players and fans.”
The ruling follows an eight-week inquiry which finished towards the end of 2024, but reports suggest City were actually aware of the guilty verdict during the summer.
Despite knowing the outcome of the hearing, the club still proceeded to part with roughly £400m in the transfer market before the news was officially made public.
Premier League rivals notified
Once the decision was reached, rival clubs were informed of the situation. Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester United were the first to be told, as they had all retained the option to demand financial compensation.
The remaining 15 Premier League clubs were notified shortly after. City will now look to replicate their previous success in successfully reversing a European ban as they prepare for their upcoming appeal.
In the meantime, the champions must prepare for a highly anticipated clash against Liverpool this Sunday, where an incredibly frosty welcome is waiting for them at Anfield.
