Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney says he would not want his former club to be awarded Premier League titles retrospectively if Manchester City are stripped of them following their financial rule breaches.
However, Rooney believes City could face relegation if sanctions are imposed after the club was found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League.
The sanctions have yet to be announced, while Manchester City are expected to appeal the findings. The charges cover the period between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons, alongside allegations that the club failed to cooperate with the league’s investigations between December 2018 and February 2023.
One possible punishment is the removal of Premier League titles won during the period under investigation. City have won eight league titles since Sheikh Mansour’s takeover in 2009, including three during the period covered by the allegations.
Rooney was part of the Manchester United side that finished runners-up to City in the dramatic 2011/12 title race. Despite the possibility of receiving the title retrospectively, he said he would not feel comfortable accepting it.
“I wouldn’t feel comfortable about accepting another Premier League medal,” 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.”
Rooney said players who had competed honestly for City could also feel unfairly affected if titles and medals were removed years later.
While former United players Rio Ferdinand and David de Gea suggested they should receive retrospective titles following the guilty verdict, Rooney said he was content with the five Premier League medals he already has.
“I’m happy with the five I’ve won,” he said, adding that he would not want another medal simply because City were punished.
On a possible punishment for City, Rooney said he expects the club could be relegated and called for severe sporting restrictions.
“I do think we’re going to see City getting relegated,” he said.
Rooney suggested a punishment beyond a single season in the Championship, including restrictions on spending and potentially a lower league placement combined with points deductions.
“I’d go as big as I can really,” he added.
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