Manchester City fans deploy inflatable bananas at Anfield

Under the grey sky of Anfield, Manchester City supporters, known as the Cityzens, deployed inflatable bananas in the stands as Enzo Maresca's men prevailed against Liverpool in a Premier League match, this sixth consecutive win boosted the club's momentum.

This staging is not new. It fits within a tradition that dates back to 1987, when a supporter introduced the first inflatable banana into the stadium to lighten a gloomy atmosphere marked by hooliganism.

At that time, English football was going through a global crisis, and Manchester City had been relegated to the second division. The gesture aimed to remind that, even in the lowest division, supporters would still be present.

A mascot born in 1987

Former midfielder Imre Varadi, who played for Manchester City between 1986 and 1988, was nicknamed “Imre Banana”. He recalls: “One evening I was out jogging and someone was waving a banana,” and says that twenty‑five to thirty bananas floated in the stands at the next match, propelling him to the status of unofficial mascot.

A financial crisis under the spotlight

During the international break, Manchester City was found guilty of serious financial misconduct between 2009 and 2018, after an investigation carried out by an independent commission. The club, owned by an Emirati fund, is alleged to have artificially inflated its revenue and under‑reported its costs by more than £900 million, i.e., over a billion euros. The sanctions are yet to be decided, but the ruling has reignited media criticism.

In this crisis context, the Cityzens reaffirmed their support by brandishing the bananas again at Anfield. A spokesperson for the “1894 Group” said it was “to remind that, whatever the division, we will always be there”, adding that “it’s a bit quirky, but City supporters come to have a good time.”

Thus, Manchester City’s victory at Liverpool, marked by a sixth consecutive Premier League win, was celebrated under the banner of light‑heartedness and resilience. The inflatable bananas, straddling tradition and protest, illustrate the club’s ability to draw on its identity to weather turbulence.