Manchester United fans reset the clock on their Stretford End ‘ticker’ on Saturday to make clear their views on how Manchester City should be punished for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules.
The banner first appeared back in 2000, showing it was ’24 years’ since Manchester City had won their last major trophy, the 1976 League Cup.
It was updated each season, reaching ’35 years’ before City ended their trophy drought by lifting the FA Cup in 2011, when the banner was taken down.
But after it was announced two weeks ago that City had been found guilty of almost all of the charges relating to breaches of financial regulations between 2009 and 2018, the banner reappeared ahead of Saturday’s match against Tottenham, paid for the by The Red Army supporters group.
Now updated to read ’51 years’, the supporters have made clear they do not feel any of the 22 major honours City have won under the ownership of the Abu Dhabi United Group are legitimate.
There were also chants of ‘You cheating b——s, you know what you are’ before kick-off.
No punishment has yet been announced for City, who have appealed against the verdict of the independent commission and stated that the verdict “contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe.”
Michael Carrick, meanwhile, said before the Tottenham game that being awarded medals retrospectively as a consequence of Manchester City’s financial rule breaking will not replace the winning “moments” he was denied.
Carrick was a player under Sir Alex Ferguson when United came second in the Premier League behind City in 2012 and also when Jose Mourinho’s team finished runners-up to City in 2018.
– ‘We’re Not Really Here’: As Man City sanctions loom, it’s the fans who suffer
– City whistleblower to remain in witness protection
– Arteta insists conscience is clear over time at Man City
Both seasons fall within the Premier League’s investigation into City’s finances between 2009 and 2018.
“It’s the moment that you strive for — to win and achieve in that moment — so the medal here or there, not getting blasé about it, but that doesn’t bring the feeling of when you initially win or you don’t win,” he said. “That’s essentially what we’re all in it for.”
Information from PA and ESPN’s Rob Dawson was used in this report.
