Rooney rejects retrospective Premier League medal even if Man City are stripped of titles

Wayne Rooney has reiterated that he would refuse a retrospective Premier League winners’ medal even if Manchester City are stripped of titles following their guilty verdict on financial charges, insisting Manchester United did not do enough to deserve the honour in the seasons they finished as runners-up.

City were found guilty of all but one of the charges brought against them by the Premier League, though the club have appealed the independent commission’s verdict and continue to maintain their innocence. The outcome of any punishment — which could include points deductions or title stripping — remains uncertain.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Rooney acknowledged the scale of the uncertainty hanging over City. “They could be fighting for the title or fighting for relegation. No-one knows where it’s going to end up,” he said. “It’s a bad situation to be in but as far as the players are concerned, all they can do is go out and try and do their job on the pitch. The powers above them and the independent panel will decide what happens in terms of the punishment.”

When host Kelly Cates asked whether he would accept a retrospective title medal given that United finished second to City during the period covered by the charges, Rooney was unequivocal. “It’s difficult. I look at it from the players’ point of view. I’m assuming all the players didn’t know what was going on. They went onto the football pitch and won the league, while we finished second. We didn’t finish first. Why would we want a medal for finishing second?”

The former England captain had previously made his position clear on the Stick To United podcast, distancing himself from the view held by some former teammates. “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,” he said.

“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. Should they get it stripped for what the owners have done? Yeah maybe, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable accepting it.”

Meanwhile, City returned to domestic action with a 3-0 win over Liverpool under Enzo Maresca, their first match since the charges verdict came to light, though the threat of severe sanctions continues to overshadow the club’s season.