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Rooney reveals why he would reject Premier League medal if Man City lose titles
29th September, 2026 06:32 PM
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney says he would not want to receive a Premier League winner’s medal if Manchester City were eventually stripped of their 2011/12 title.
Manchester City were on Friday, September 25, 2026, found guilty of 114 of 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations. The club has denied wrongdoing and is expected to appeal the decision.
The charges cover a period between 2009 and 2018, prompting debate over whether City could lose the honours they secured during that period.
Among the possible consequences being discussed are the removal of titles, points deductions, fines, transfer restrictions or even expulsion from the Premier League.
City’s 2011/12 triumph is particularly relevant to Manchester United because Sir Alex Ferguson’s side finished runners-up that season.
United missed out on the championship on goal difference after both Manchester clubs ended the campaign level on points.
Some former United players have indicated that they would welcome the possibility of being awarded the title retrospectively.
Rio Ferdinand posted on X: “Another premier league medal to be added to the cabinet,” while former United goalkeeper David de Gea wrote: “So…… Let’s talk. How many Premier League titles have I won then?”
Rooney’s different view
Rooney, however, has distanced himself from that position.
Speaking to Stick to United, the former United captain said: “I have heard Rio has come out saying about getting another Premier League medal…I wouldn’t really feel comfortable accepting another Premier League medal, if I’m being honest.
“I don’t think we deserve it, we didn’t do enough that season to win the league. I think we were six or seven points clear with four or five games to go and we threw it away.
“I’ve seen everything that has come out over the past few days and listening to people and I was putting myself in a Man City player’s shoes…they’re players, they’re doing everything they can to try and win the Premier League title and in their mind they have done it, if those players have no understanding of what is going on above them, if that happened to me, I would be absolutely devastated.
Rooney added that although the title could potentially be removed from City’s record, he would personally prefer not to benefit from such a decision.
“It might happen, they might take them away, but I wouldn’t want it because I don’t think as a team we deserved it that year because obviously we didn’t finish first. So when I see team-mates saying. ‘I want a medal,’ I’m happy with the five I’ve won.
“I wouldn’t want this one. Should they get it stripped for what the owners have done? Yeah maybe, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable accepting it.”
Man City maintain innocence
Manchester City have maintained that they have not breached the rules and have indicated that the legal process is not yet over.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak also told supporters that the case remains ongoing, with the club expected to challenge the latest verdict.
Chief executive Ferran Soriano was also reported to have attended a meeting with Premier League officials in Copenhagen. During the meeting, he reportedly said: “It’s taken eight years to get here, and it’s going to take a lot more time,” referring to the length of time since the charges were brought in 2018.
The eventual outcome could therefore take further time to establish, with a range of possible sanctions still being discussed as the process continues.
