Rooney argues Man Utd should not claim titles if City lose theirs

Wayne Rooney, the former Manchester United striker who netted 253 goals in 559 appearances, told the Stick to United podcast that his old club would not feel right accepting a Premier League medal if Manchester City were stripped of theirs for breaching financial rules.

City found guilty of most charges

The Premier League has concluded that Manchester City are guilty of the majority of the 115 charges brought against them. The financial breaches cover the period from the 2009‑10 season to 2017‑18, and the club was also accused of failing to co‑operate with investigations between December 2018 and February 2023.

Possible sanctions and City’s appeal

Sanctions have yet to be announced, and Manchester City have indicated they will appeal the decision. One potential punishment could see the club stripped of any Premier League titles won during the disputed years. The team have claimed eight Premier League crowns since Sheikh Mansour’s takeover in 2009, three of which fall within the period under scrutiny.

Rooney rejects extra Premier League medal as United face City fallout

Rooney rejects retrospective medals

Rooney, who was part of the United side that finished runners‑up to City in the 2011‑12 campaign, said he would not feel comfortable accepting a medal for that season. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable about accepting another Premier League medal,” he said, adding that United did not do enough to win the league. Former teammates Rio Ferdinand and David de Gea posted on social media that United should be awarded the title, while former Stoke City manager Tony Pulis claimed his side had been cheated in the 2011 FA Cup final.

Rooney calls for relegation and strict penalties

While Rooney is against titles being taken away from City, he does believe they should be relegated. He suggested the club could be placed in the lowest possible league and face spending restrictions for three or four seasons. “If they got a 20‑point deduction for the next three years, players won’t want to stay there,” he argued, adding that a demotion to League Two would be a very difficult punishment.

Rio Ferdinand demands Manchester City get back the 2011‑12 title

Wider football community reacts

Former Tottenham and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino described the period as one of deception, saying any punishment would be unable to turn back time. He warned that many clubs followed the rules while others did not, and that the damage caused by the breaches would be hard to repair. Other voices, including former Manchester City CEO, have remained defiant over the charges.