Carragher: The Abu Dhabi Era at Manchester City Is Over — There Is Only One Way to Clear the Club's Name

Manchester City can only clear their name following the Premier League's investigation by putting the club up for sale, according to Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher. He believes that any senior figure implicated in the financial scandal, including owner Sheikh Mansour, has no future at the top table of English football.

An independent commission ruled days ago that City had "deliberately attempted to circumvent Premier League rules" by inflating revenue figures and concealing costs through a series of "sham" marketing arrangements spanning more than nine years.

"The Abu Dhabi era at Manchester City is over. The club can only wash away this stain when its hierarchy admits they have failed in their duties. There can be no mincing of words here. The scale of this institutional deception and the total lack of cooperation during the investigation make the position of those running the club completely untenable. Digging their heels in will only prolong the agony for supporters who blindly trusted their claims of innocence," Carragher wrote in his Daily Telegraph column.

Carragher's stance contrasts sharply with that of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who suggested that such severe measures might be unfitting for an ownership group that has injected billions into the region since taking over in 2008. Burnham told the BBC:

"I would be deeply concerned about losing them. They have been an invaluable partner in the regeneration of modern Manchester, as well as transforming Manchester City into a global powerhouse."

Burnham's remarks came after David Kogan, chair of the Independent Football Regulator (IFR), noted that the verdict "raises serious questions." Kogan also acknowledged that the body holds the authority to assess whether owners and executives remain fit and proper once all proceedings are concluded.

Carragher insists there should be no room for leniency, warning that allowing those implicated in one of football's biggest controversies to escape without real consequences would render regulators like the IFR virtually toothless.

"The Premier League's Owners' and Directors' Test clearly sets out the repercussions for breaching foundational rules that member clubs, including City, agreed to uphold. Anyone found guilty must be expelled from the Premier League. Anything less would merely prove that the regulatory system is not fit for purpose," the former England defender added.

For now, City have signaled their intent to fight the allegations vigorously. However, the club's primary sponsor, Etihad Airways, issued a statement today confirming it is evaluating its legal options following the independent commission's findings.