Rooney Rejects Retroactive United Title From City's 115-Charge Case, Backs Relegation
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Sep 29
Rooney Rejects Retroactive United Title From City's 115-Charge Case, Backs Relegation
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Sep 29
Summary
Wayne Rooney said Manchester United should not be handed a Premier League title if Manchester City are stripped of one, arguing United "didn't do enough" in 2011-12 despite finishing runners-up.
115 charges against City have produced guilty findings on most counts, covering alleged financial-rule breaches from 2009-10 to 2017-18 and failures to cooperate with investigators through February 2023; sanctions have not yet been announced and City plan to appeal.
Rooney instead called for a harsher sporting penalty, saying City should be relegated—ideally to the lowest possible division—with spending limits or even 20-point deductions over the next three years.
The verdict has split former rivals and peers: Rio Ferdinand and David de Gea suggested retrospective title awards, while Mauricio Pochettino said the league lived through a "period of deception" and other clubs are reportedly exploring compensation claims.