Steven Gerrard has called for a severe, two-part punishment for Manchester City following the club's guilty verdict on financial fair play charges, insisting the Premier League must set an example. The Liverpool legend also declared he has no interest in accepting a winner's medal should City be stripped of their titles.
Speaking on The Overlap, Gerrard argued that City's sanctions should combine a transfer ban with points deductions spread over multiple seasons, warning that a mere relegation would be neither fair nor sufficient.
What did Steven Gerrard say about Manchester City's punishment?
Gerrard was unequivocal about the scale of the response required. Manchester City were found to have produced several sham deals to create around £900m of fake revenue, accelerating their on-field progression, and now face potential sanctions ranging from a fine and transfer ban to a points deduction, expulsion, or the stripping of their Premier League titles.
Multi-year punishments, that would be my opinion. I think it needs to be a transfer ban. I think it needs to be points over a period of time. And make them suffer like they've made everyone else suffer for the nine, ten years that they've done it for.
Gerrard rejected relegation to the Championship as an adequate remedy, arguing it would be unfair on the EFL and on the clubs who would face City's squad week in, week out.
He also pointed to the precedent set elsewhere: the Premier League was firm with Everton and Nottingham Forest, and other federations have acted decisively in other countries. The league, he argued, must now be equally strong.
Why Gerrard refuses a Premier League winner's medal
Should City be stripped of their titles, medals could theoretically be redistributed to runners-up, including Gerrard's Liverpool side of the 2013-14 season. Gerrard, however, wants no part of it.
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.
He stressed that his position is not personal towards City's players, whom he described as outstanding and deserving of their moments on the pitch. He added that he has come to terms with never winning the Premier League, and with the infamous slip that cost Liverpool dear in the run-in that season.
A test of the Premier League's integrity
For supporters of fair competition, the verdict is a welcome confirmation that no club, however wealthy, stands above the rules. Gerrard noted that the scandal has had a ripple effect worldwide, recounting a conversation with foreign players in a hospitality box who wanted to discuss nothing else.
He acknowledged the tribalism inherent in the debate, conceding that he would defend Liverpool just as City figures now defend their club, but insisted that in their quieter moments, everyone in the game knows strong punishment is required for the sake of the Premier League, its brand, and the sport globally.
City have appealed the verdict. The coming months will reveal whether the Premier League possesses the resolve its own regulations demand.
Frequently asked questions
What punishment does Steven Gerrard want for Manchester City?
Gerrard wants a multi-year punishment combining a transfer ban with points deductions over a sustained period, arguing that relegation alone would be insufficient and unfair on the EFL.
Would Steven Gerrard accept a Premier League medal if City are stripped of titles?
No. Gerrard said he has no interest in accepting a medal, adding that he has come to terms with never winning the Premier League as a player.
What were Manchester City found guilty of?
City were found guilty of almost all charges after being accused of breaching FFP regulations, including producing sham deals that created around £900m of fake revenue. The club have appealed.