Rooney rejects Man United receiving Man City titles if punished for financial breaches

Wayne Rooney has rejected the idea of Manchester United being awarded a Premier League title retrospectively if Manchester City are stripped of honours over their financial breaches.

City were found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League, covering alleged breaches between 2009-10 and 2017-18.

The club is yet to learn its punishment and has indicated it will appeal the findings. One possible sanction could involve the removal of Premier League titles won during the period under investigation.

Rooney refuses second-place title

Rooney was part of the Manchester United team that finished runners-up to City in the dramatic 2011-12 Premier League title race.

Despite that, the former England international said he would not feel comfortable receiving a winners’ medal more than a decade later, arguing that United had not done enough to finish first on the pitch.

“I wouldn’t feel comfortable about accepting another Premier League medal if I’m being honest, because I don’t think we deserve it. We didn’t do enough that season to win the league,” Rooney said on the Stick to United podcast.

Rooney’s position differs from that of some of his former United teammates. Rio Ferdinand and David de Gea both appeared to suggest on social media that United should receive retrospective recognition following news of City’s guilty verdict.

“I’d be absolutely devastated” if a title won on the pitch was later removed, Rooney said, adding that he would understand how City players might feel if their medals were taken away despite their belief that they had won them fairly.

“I wouldn’t want this one just sat there… 15 years later or whatever it was you get a medal because City cheated. I wouldn’t feel comfortable.”

Rooney backs severe punishment for City

While Rooney does not want United handed the 2011-12 title, he believes City could face relegation as part of any eventual punishment.

“I do think we’re going to see City getting relegated,” he said. “However that happens I don’t know but I think we’re going to see them get relegated.”

Rooney also suggested that any relegation could be accompanied by restrictions on City’s spending for several seasons.

Meanwhile, former Tottenham and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino said the findings had raised questions about sporting fairness, while La Liga president Javier Tebas called for the most severe sanction permitted under Premier League rules.

City’s case followed a four-year Premier League investigation, with a behind-closed-doors hearing beginning in September 2024 and lasting around 12 weeks. Sanctions have not yet been announced.