Carragher's 'I'd rather cheat and win' quote resurfaces amid his Man City titles demand

Jamie Carragher is under fire for apparent hypocrisy after a 2022 podcast quote in which he admitted he would “rather cheat and win than not win” resurfaced on social media, clashing directly with his public demand that Manchester City be stripped of their Premier League titles.

The former Liverpool defender made the comments on episode 206 of The Diary of a CEO, where he reflected on what winning meant to him as a player. “Football, for me, is a way of life, and winning is all that matters,” Carragher said. “For me, when I played, I’d rather cheat and win than not win. I don’t think I’ll ever be any different.”

The clip gained renewed attention after City were found guilty by an independent commission of breaching Premier League financial rules. Carragher has been among the most vocal pundits calling for severe consequences, including title strippings, points deductions across multiple seasons, and questioning whether the club’s owners should remain in charge. City are appealing the decision, with an appeal board hearing scheduled.

TalkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan addressed the contradiction on his programme, saying: “He’ll feel that perhaps he shouldn’t have said that because it wasn’t really necessary for Jamie to have said that.” Jordan stopped short of dismissing Carragher’s broader argument, however, adding: “I think that it doesn’t alter the fact that what he is saying about Man City has resonance. Just because most people in life are hypocrites, they are; they just might not choose to admit it.”

Carragher pushed back on X, drawing a clear distinction between the two situations. “No, it’s not hypocritical,” he wrote. “I’m talking about my striker diving for a penalty, me stopping a ball going over the line with my hand. I’m not talking about 900M in fake sponsorship over a number of years.”

Jordan was unconvinced, responding: “If you’re going to make imperious judgements, then you need to be beyond reproach. Cheating is cheating. If you want to be judge, jury and executioner — and as much as it sticks in my craw, without allowing Manchester City due process — then expect to be judged by the standards you are wanting others to be judged by.”

The exchange highlights the charged atmosphere surrounding City’s case, with the club’s appeal yet to be heard and the debate over appropriate punishment showing no sign of cooling.