Scholes contradicts Rooney's view on Manchester City

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has stated he wants to receive a Premier League winner's medal for the 2011-2012 season if Manchester City are stripped of their title, a stance that goes against the opinion of his former teammate Wayne Rooney.

Debate over Manchester City's titles from 2009-2018 emerged after an independent commission concluded the club violated most of the financial allegations made by the Premier League.

According to Rio Ferdinand and David de Gea, Manchester United should be awarded the 2011-2012 Premier League title if Manchester City are stripped of theirs.

Wayne Rooney (left) and Paul Scholes playing together for Manchester United. Photo: AFP

However, Rooney believes Manchester United would not deserve the title, even if Manchester City are stripped of it. He recalled how the team once held a six or seven-point lead with only a few games remaining but squandered that advantage. "I am happy with the five titles I have and would not feel comfortable receiving this additional medal," Rooney stated.

The former England striker also expressed sympathy for Manchester City players, suggesting they might have been unaware of management-level issues and simply focused on playing to win championships. Rooney added that if he were to have his achievements revoked due to off-field problems he knew nothing about, he would be "devastated."

Responding to Rooney's viewpoint, Scholes wrote on Instagram: "Keep hearing ex-teammates saying they want Man City stripped of titles but don't want the medals... I'm greedy, I want my medal."

Scholes is one of the iconic figures of Manchester United's famed "Class of ’92", a group of academy graduates who formed the foundation for a period of immense success under Alex Ferguson. Scholes played for Manchester United in two spells (1993-2011, 2012-2013), winning 11 Premier League titles, five of which were alongside Rooney.

Manchester United came very close to winning the 2011-2012 title. On the final matchday of that season, they defeated Sunderland one-zero and believed they had successfully defended their championship. However, at the Etihad, Manchester City scored two goals in stoppage time to beat QPR 3-2. Sergio Aguero's decisive goal in the fourth minute of added time created an iconic moment in Premier League history. Both teams finished with 89 points, but Manchester City claimed the title due to a superior goal difference.

Manchester City celebrating their first Premier League title, in 2012. Photo: Reuters

On 25/9, English football was rocked by news that Manchester City had violated 114 of the 115 initial charges related to Premier League financial regulations from 2009 to 2018.

The Etihad Stadium owners appealed, stating that the commission's conclusions contained "significant errors in law, principle, and fact," while asserting they possessed evidence to prove their innocence.

A key part of Manchester City's appeal argument reportedly aims to demonstrate that additional funds for sponsorship deals originated from the Abu Dhabi government, rather than the club's owners, thereby refuting allegations that these sponsorship agreements were merely a mechanism to inject money into the team.

While former teammates debated the fate of Manchester City's titles, former captain Gary Neville suggested the issue was more serious for the club's owners. He argued that if the guilty verdict is upheld after appeal, Manchester City's owners might face scrutiny over whether they still meet the Premier League's standards for club owners and executives.

According to Neville, fines or point deductions would only have a short-term impact. He stressed the importance of examining two issues: the suitability of those running the club and the fate of Manchester City's achievements during the period identified for violations.

"If I were part of Manchester City, I would immediately accept a fine or points deduction, even 60 points, because that would only harm the club for a period," the former England defender said. "The two issues with the most direct impact on English football are whether the achievements from that period will still be recognized, and what will happen to the owners and executives who ran the club."

The investigative committee concluded that Manchester City had inflated commercial revenue through sponsorship contracts that the Premier League deemed not to reflect their true nature, thereby generating additional resources to meet financial regulations.

Neville suggested that if the final conclusion remains unchanged, Manchester City's period of success would always be questioned. "The Premier League is one of England's biggest exports, but currently the league's image is being affected by the strongest team of the past 15 years being found in violation," the former England defender stated. "If the verdict is upheld, that period will forever be overshadowed. Those achievements will be tarnished."