Controversy Surrounding Manchester City’s Title Win: Rooney and Dean Weigh In

Wayne Rooney has long expressed skepticism regarding whether Queens Park Rangers (QPR) allowed Manchester City to secure an easy victory during their crucial match at the Etihad Stadium. Roberto Mancini’s side, in pursuit of their first English league championship in 44 years, needed to secure all three points in their final match of the season. In a dramatic turn of events, QPR, who were battling against relegation, held a 2-1 lead in the closing stages of the match.

This scenario ultimately meant that, with Manchester United winning their match against Sunderland, they ended the season as champions. However, City still had time to overturn the deficit, thanks to goals from Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero. What troubles Rooney is the fact that QPR managed to avoid relegation even in defeat, a result influenced by Bolton’s 1-1 draw with Stoke. He has insinuated that QPR may have felt safe before the match concluded, although this remains ambiguous.

In a 2022 interview, Rooney remarked, “Paddy Kenny should have done better for a couple of the goals. City equalized, and QPR immediately gave the ball back to them, which has never been questioned—this strikes me as peculiar. Djibril Cisse celebrated with City players after the game, but it’s a historic moment in the Premier League, so I understand why, if you’re not a Manchester United player, you might find it one of the greatest moments in the league.”

During a discussion on The Overlap Fan Debate, Mike Dean, the referee of that match, shared his perspective on the events. He found it unusual how QPR surrendered possession so easily after City equalized at 2-2 through Dzeko’s goal.

“After City made it 2-2, QPR just kicked the ball back to them. We were all wondering what was happening, why they were giving the ball back so quickly,” Dean recalled. He noted that the match officials sensed something unusual was afoot. “Once QPR learned they were safe, Jamie Mackie was celebrating on the pitch while the game was still in play,” he added.

Rooney, also present on the show, humorously pointed out the number of former City players in the QPR lineup, referencing Shaun Wright-Phillips, Nedum Onuoha, and Joey Barton, who had previously been sent off for violent conduct.

Following the match, QPR’s Djibril Cisse was observed celebrating with City players but later clarified that his actions were solely in support of his close friend Samir Nasri, not as an endorsement of City over United. He told FourFourTwo, “I was celebrating with Samir Nasri, not with Mario Balotelli or Sergio Aguero. Manchester United lost the title because they dropped points throughout the season. Rooney’s comments aren’t fair; he redirected his frustrations toward me. If we wanted City to win, we could have let them score earlier. Our manager intended to compete, and we fielded a strong team.”

Interestingly, Manchester United could theoretically be retroactively awarded the 2011-12 Premier League title due to the ongoing investigation into Manchester City’s alleged financial rule violations, with charges dating from 2009 to 2018.

The case has been protracted, with the hearing concluding nearly a year ago and no new updates forthcoming. The potential sanctions, if City is found guilty—something they staunchly deny—could range widely, including the possibility of titles being stripped.