Steven Gerrard, former Liverpool leader and emblematic figure of English football, has demanded that Manchester City face severe sanctions following reports of 114 fair-play violations committed between 2009 and 2018. In an interview with the program “The Overlap Daily”, the former midfielder stated that minimal penalties, such as relegation or the withdrawal of titles, are not enough; It asks to suspend the club for several years, prohibit it from signing and deduct points for a certain period.
Gerrard recalled how City's alleged violations cost them the fight for the Premier League title in the 2013-2014 season, when the Manchester club took the trophy. Despite not wanting to claim a league medal a decade later, the former player accepted that he never won the Premier League and stressed that the club must take responsibility. “I think I have accepted the fact that I never won the Premier League,” he declared, stressing that the solution should not be an individual sanction but a measure that protects the integrity of the competition.
Manchester City, for its part, continues to strongly deny the accusations and defend itself against the charges. Gerrard, however, maintains that a simple relegation to the Championship would be insufficient, as it would allow the club to return to the Premier League easily and continue to harm the competition. Their demand is a sanction proportional to the magnitude of the accusations in English football.
The case is still ongoing, with City defending their position and players like Gerrard calling for justice. The future of the sanctions and the possible impact on the Premier League table will depend on the decision of the competent authorities.