Rooney doesn't want Man Utd to be awarded Man City's 2012 Premier League title

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FT Desk

Wayne Rooney says he wouldn't feel comfortable accepting a Premier League winner's medal for the 2011/12 season when Manchester United finished second behind Manchester City.

Roberto Mancini's City side won the league that year in dramatic fashion, with Sergio Aguero scoring the famous winner at the Etihad to give the club a 3-2 victory against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the campaign to secure the title.

However, there is now a question mark over every single trophy that City won between 2009 and 2018 after the Premier League found them guilty of 114 financial breaches within that period. Though sanctions and punishments are yet to be confirmed for the breaches, there is talk of stripping them of their Premier League titles.

Theoretically, that could mean those who finished one place behind them being awarded league titles, such as Man Utd in 2012.

Rooney hopes that doesn't happen, though, unlike former team-mate Rio Ferdinand, who said this week he would welcome it.

"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 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. The amount of time which has been between it, to accept a Premier League medal.

"I've seen everything that has come out over the past few days and listening to people and I was putting myself in a Man City player's shoes. They are there, doing everything to win a Premier League title and in their minds, they have done it, they have won the Premier League title.

"If that happened to me, if all of a sudden Manchester United had been doing the same and my Premier League medal had been taken away from me, I would be absolutely devastated.

"It might happen, they might take them away, but I wouldn't want it because I don't think as a team we deserved it that year because obviously we didn't finish first. So when I see ex-teammates and other people saying 'I want a medal' ... I'm happy with the five I've won. I wouldn't want this one, just 15 years later you get a medal because City cheated.

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

Manchester City have been accused by the Premier League of 114 breaches of its rules, covering the period from 2009 to 2018. The allegations mainly relate to the financial information the club provided, with questions surrounding the accuracy of reported revenue, sponsorship income, operating costs and payments made to players and managers.

The Premier League also alleges that City failed to follow UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations and the league’s financial rules during the relevant seasons. A further group of charges relates to the club’s alleged failure to cooperate fully with the investigation, including requests for financial documents and other information.

Manchester City have denied the allegations and maintain that they have evidence to support their position. The case is being dealt with by an independent commission, and no final punishment has been confirmed. Potential sanctions could include financial penalties, points deductions or even relegation.