Gerrard: City should be stripped of titles and face heavy sanctions
Liverpool legend calls for titles to be removed, transfer bans and points deductions but opposes relegation to the Championship.
13 October 2026 — Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard said that Manchester City must be heavily punished for breaches of financial rules in the Premier League, calling for titles to be stripped, transfer bans and deductions of points spanning several seasons.
Gerrard argued the sanctions should be significant enough to serve as a deterrent for other clubs, and that any punishment should target the club’s structures rather than the players.
Sanctions but not relegation
He told that he does not support relegating City to the Championship because that would be unfair to clubs fighting for places in the top flight. Instead, Gerrard proposed removal of trophies already won, restrictions on transfer activity and multi-season points penalties.
Reflecting on his own past, Gerrard recalled Liverpool’s 2013/14 title race with City and said he would not want to receive an additional English championship medal if a rival were later stripped of a trophy, because “such recognition would not have the same value.”
Gerrard also urged the Premier League to act consistently, noting that other English clubs have previously received sanctions and that the competition must show that breaches carry serious consequences.
The former Liverpool captain framed his stance as a call for clarity and deterrence: punish the institution responsible, make the penalty meaningful, but avoid sporting steps that would penalize other clubs indirectly.
Photo: press material from the event
