Lineker predicts Man City could be stripped of Premier League titles after guilty verdict

Gary Lineker has predicted that Manchester City could be stripped of Premier League titles as part of their punishment for financial rule breaches, speaking at Leaders Week London 2026 at Stamford Bridge.

The Premier League revealed the findings of its independent panel last Tuesday, with City found guilty on all financial charges. The club have since lodged an appeal, with the outcome expected in January, while a separate hearing into potential sanctions — which could include a significant points deduction, a hefty fine, and a transfer ban — will run concurrently.

“It looks really bad for Manchester City,” Lineker said. “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.”

The former England striker urged City’s hierarchy to stop contesting the verdict and accept whatever consequences follow. “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. That would be a blessing and they could save their face a little bit. At the moment that doesn’t look very likely.”

On the prospect of title stripping, Lineker added: “I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes down the route of titles being stripped. Ultimately, who suffers from that? Players and fans. It’s going to be one of those punishments, and it has to be, obviously, severe, because we are talking about a lot of offences.”

Lineker drew on personal experience to underline the human cost of institutional sanctions, recalling the ban on English clubs from European competition. “I remember when English clubs were banned from Europe, and it cost me playing in the European Cup for Everton. So, again, players will suffer from this.”

City previously overturned a Champions League ban imposed by UEFA and will be hoping to replicate that outcome. It has since emerged that the club were informed of the guilty verdict over the summer yet still proceeded to spend approximately £400 million in the transfer market. Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Manchester United — all of whom reserved the legal right to seek compensation — were among the next parties notified, followed by the remaining 15 Premier League clubs.