Rooney rejects hypothetical 2012 title medal despite Man City guilty verdict on 114 charges

Wayne Rooney has said he would refuse a Premier League winners’ medal for the 2011/12 season even if Manchester City are stripped of the title, insisting Manchester United did not do enough that campaign to merit the honour.

City were found guilty on Friday of 114 of the 115 Premier League financial rule breaches they faced, covering a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018. The verdict has prompted widespread calls for the club to be stripped of every title won during that window, with some also demanding expulsion from the top flight given City’s failure to cooperate with the investigation.

United finished second in 2011/12 on the same points total as City, losing the title on goal difference in one of the most dramatic final days in Premier League history. Former teammates Rio Ferdinand and David de Gea have reportedly indicated they would welcome being awarded the title retrospectively, but Rooney is not among them.

“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,” Rooney said on the Stick to United podcast. “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.”

Rooney also expressed sympathy for City’s players, drawing a distinction between the squad and the club’s ownership and administration. “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,” he said. “If those players have no understanding of what is going on above them, if that happened to me, I would be absolutely devastated.”

The former England captain, who won five Premier League titles during his time at Old Trafford, was clear that his personal medal haul was sufficient. “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.”

City have consistently maintained their innocence throughout the proceedings and are expected to appeal the verdict.