Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard demands Manchester City to be stripped of their titles to set an example

Steven Gerrard has urged the Premier League to harshly punish Man City to set an example. (Image credits – CommonsWikipedia, License Details)

Steven Gerrard has urged the Premier League for Manchester City to be stripped of their titles after an independent commission found that the club breached Premier League financial regulations, insisting that the seriousness of the offence deserves a punishment worthy of it.

The former Liverpool skipper demanded that the titles won by Manchester City during the alleged period when they had committed the financial fraud be held into account, as they're directly a part of the investigation.

He also called for a transfer ban and points deductions across multiple seasons, saying the league needed to establish a strong precedent for future financial misconduct and Manchester City needed to be punished accordingly to set an example.

“But the club, they have to be stripped,” Gerrard said. (sic)

He further added, “There needs to be an example set historically, in my opinion, whether that’s an asterisk throughout all the years and their achievements.” (sic)

The commission found City guilty of serious financial-rule breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, including arranging commercial agreements that misrepresented the true arrangements and artificially inflated revenue by an estimated 900 million.

It also slapped three of four charges relating to the club’s failure to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation process.

Man City have maintained their innocence and appealed against the findings.

The club’s final punishment has not yet been determined, with the appeal process still ongoing, and it may take many more years.

Gerrard captained Liverpool during the 2013-14 season, when Brendan Rodgers’ side finished two points behind City in the title race.

However, he insisted he would not want a Premier League medal if City’s title were eventually removed. 

“I’m not someone who’s going to sit here and say, 'I would accept a Premier League medal,' or 'I want one that they’ve got. It wouldn’t feel the same,” said Gerrard. (sic)

The former Liverpool skipper also added that relegation is not the ideal solution, arguing that it could unfairly affect Championship clubs.

Instead, he favoured sustained sporting sanctions like stripping them of their titles, transfer bans, hefty fines and also points deduction in consecutive seasons.