Rooney rejects extra Premier League medal as United face City fallout
In a cramped studio, the sound of a ticking clock punctuated Wayne Rooney's measured words as he turned down the idea of an extra Premier League medal, while earlier that year Calum was busy polishing his first editorial piece at the GiveMeSport office.
Calum's rise through the GiveMeSport Academy
Having taken part in the GiveMeSport Academy in early 2023, Calum secured a full‑time role in June of the same year. After completing a Freelance Journalism course through the British College of Journalism, he was promoted to editor only a short time later.
His early duties included producing news for HITC Sport and Read Liverpool, giving him a platform to experiment with a wide range of formats. He has since crafted news, opinion, features, lists and viral sport content for GMS, proving his versatility across the sport spectrum.
Beyond football, Calum has covered Boxing, Tennis and Wrestling, showing a genuine passion for sport that extends well beyond the beautiful game. The breadth of his work demonstrates how the GiveMeSport Academy can nurture talent capable of handling diverse sporting beats.
Rooney on United's 2011‑12 title claim
Wayne Rooney, a five‑time Premier League champion, weighed in on the Manchester United (Utd) claim to the 2011‑12 title after Manchester City (Man City) were found guilty of 114 of 115 financial charges on Friday. The verdict reignited speculation about whether runners‑up should be handed the trophy retroactively.
Fans demand points deduction and asterisk after Manchester City verdict
Rooney told the Stick to United podcast he would not feel comfortable accepting another Premier League medal. "I wouldn’t really feel comfortable accepting another Premier League medal, if I’m being honest," he said, adding that United did not earn the crown on the pitch.
He explained, "I don’t think we deserve it, we threw it away. I’ve seen everything that has come out over the past few days and I was putting myself in a Man City player’s shoes… they’re doing everything they can to win the title and in their mind they have done it." He added that if the players were unaware of the off‑field issues, he would be "absolutely devastated".
Social media split on the medal debate
Fans on X divided sharply. One user praised Rooney's integrity, noting his famous 2011 overhead kick against City and saying he would "hand the medal back" – a strange amount of integrity for a footballer. Another Liverpool supporter wrote, "As a Liverpool fan I feel the same way, strip them of their titles but don’t pass them down to us," echoing the sentiment that the red badge should not be handed over.
Wayne Rooney says he’d feel uneasy if Man City lose title
Conversely, a commentator urged respect for Rooney, arguing that if a club breaches rules for a decade, the runners‑up who played fair deserve recognition. Others suggested that even if City were stripped, United should not don a medal they feel they do not merit.
The debate highlights how financial rulings can reshape historic narratives, and Rooney's refusal to accept a medal underscores a personal code of honesty that may influence future discussions about retroactive honours.