Rooney Refuses to Claim 2012 Title if City Stripped of It

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Wayne Rooney has stated he would feel uncomfortable accepting the 2011-12 Premier League title if Manchester City were stripped of it, citing Manchester United’s own shortcomings that season. His comments underscore the ongoing debate about how to address Manchester City’s alleged rule breaches and the uncertainty surrounding the official recognition of the title.

Wayne Rooney has expressed reservations about Manchester United being awarded the 2011-12 Premier League title should Manchester City be stripped of it. Speaking on the Stick To United podcast, the former United striker said he would feel uncomfortable accepting a winners’ medal in such a scenario, arguing that his team did not do enough that season to deserve the title.

Rooney referenced United’s performance during the 2011-12 campaign, noting that the team had been several points clear in the closing stages but ultimately failed to secure the championship. “We were six or seven points clear with four or five games to go and threw it away,” he said, suggesting that United did not meet the standard required to claim the league.

The comments come amid ongoing controversy following a Premier League investigation that found Manchester City guilty of breaching the majority of 115 charges, raising questions about the legitimacy of their 2011-12 title. Some of Rooney’s former teammates, including Rio Ferdinand and David de Gea, have advocated for the league to award them additional medals if City were to be stripped of the crown.

Rooney took a different stance, emphasizing empathy for the City players who were largely unaware of the club’s off-field issues. “I was putting myself in a City player’s shoes — they’re doing everything they can to try and win the Premier League and in their mind they have done it. Those players have no understanding of what is going on above them. If that happened to me, I would be absolutely devastated,” he said.

While Rooney acknowledged that City’s title could be revoked due to actions taken by the club’s owners, he said he would personally be satisfied with the five Premier League medals he has already won. His remarks highlight the complex debate among players, fans, and officials over how to interpret and potentially rewrite the history of a period marked by City’s dominance between 2009 and 2018.

The Premier League has yet to make a final decision regarding the potential stripping of Manchester City’s 2011-12 title, leaving uncertainty over how the records for that season will ultimately be recorded.

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