‘Just own it’: Lineker urges Man City to accept punishment over financial breaches

Former England captain Gary Lineker has urged Manchester City to take responsibility for their Premier League financial rule breaches and accept any resulting punishment. Speaking at the Leaders Week sports industry conference at Stamford Bridge, Lineker stated that accepting the consequences could help the club save face and allow English football to move on from the damaging scandal.

Manchester City were found guilty by an independent commission of inflating revenue and understating costs by over £900 million between 2009-10 and 2017-18. The club continues to maintain its innocence, claiming clear material errors in the decision, and has lodged an appeal against the findings.