Rooney rejects retrospective titles for United if City are punished

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has said United should not be awarded Premier League titles retrospectively if Manchester City are stripped of them over financial-rule breaches. Manchester City was found guilty of most of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League, according to the source material. Sanctions have not yet been announced, and City plans to appeal the decision.

The allegations cover the period from 2009-10 to 2017-18, while the club was also accused of failing to cooperate with investigations between December 2018 and February 2023. One possible sanction is the removal of top-flight titles. City won eight Premier League titles after Sheikh Mansour’s 2009 takeover, including three during the period covered by the financial allegations.

Rooney was part of the United team that finished second to City in 2011-12. Speaking on the Stick to United podcast, he said he would not feel entitled to receive a medal years later because United had not finished first and had not done enough to win that season. He also said players who had won titles on the pitch could be deeply affected if honours were later removed because of decisions made above them.

Rooney noted that former United teammates Rio Ferdinand and David de Gea had suggested on social media that United should receive retrospective titles, but said he was content with the five Premier League medals he already had. Rooney nevertheless predicted that City would be relegated. He said he would impose the strongest available punishment, potentially placing the club in League Two and restricting spending for several seasons.

He also mentioned possible points deductions. These are Rooney’s views; the source material does not state what sanctions the Premier League will impose.