Rooney’s argument, set out on the Stick To United podcast, is that Manchester United threw the title away that season, not that Manchester City ran off with it.
The former United captain is the only high-profile figure from Old Trafford’s 2012 squad publicly rejecting a retrospective medal, and he tied it to a simple points count rather than to what happens next at the Premier League.
“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 told the podcast.
The 2011-12 season was settled on the final day, with Sergio Aguero’s stoppage-time winner against QPR sending the title to Manchester City on goal difference. Rooney says the math still leaves him cold.
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“I wouldn’t really feel comfortable accepting another Premier League medal, if I’m being honest.”
He accepted the case for a City punishment, but not for adding to his own collection.
“Should they get it stripped for what the owners have done? Yeah maybe, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable accepting it.”
“I’m happy with the five I’ve won. I wouldn’t want this one.”
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Ferdinand wants the medal back
Rio Ferdinand has taken the opposite line, singling out Joleon Lescott, his old England team-mate, over a medal he now says belongs at Old Trafford.
“Next time Joleon’s on, he better bring my b****y medal,” Ferdinand said on his own show.
“When I see Joleon, I’m actually going to go to his house and just say, ‘Listen, hand it over. Hand it over’.”
On X, Ferdinand marked the ruling with a one-line post: “Another Premier League medal to be added to the cabinet.”
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114 of 115 charges, no sanction yet
An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of 114 of the 115 Premier League charges on 25 September 2026. The charges cover the 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons, the exact era in which City lifted the trophy Rooney is being asked whether he wants.
No sanction has been announced. Punishments available under Premier League regulations range from fines and points deductions to relegation and the annulment of previous titles, but any of those would come from a separate process. Manchester City are expected to appeal the guilty verdict, meaning any decision on medals or titles will follow that hearing.
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