Let there be blanks instead of Manchester City’s name on trophies: there was no honour there | Jonathan Wilson
The article argues that Manchester City’s trophies from the period covered by an independent commission’s findings should not simply be handed to the teams that finished behind them. Those clubs have reason to feel cheated, but a title awarded years later cannot restore the competition, excitement or shared memories that were lost.
The writer points to City’s 2014 League Cup win over Sunderland and the 2017-18 Premier League season, when City finished 15 points clear by January and went on to reach 100 points. He says awarding that league title to second-placed Manchester United would be arbitrary, since teams’ priorities had shifted as the season unfolded. Instead, he suggests leaving the trophies without City’s name could serve as both a rebuke and a recognition of the league’s pursuit of justice.
- Rivals were harmed by City’s alleged cheating.
- Handing out trophies years later cannot restore what was lost.
- Blank spaces could mark both rebuke and accountability.
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Manchester City are one of England’s leading football clubs, and their trophies include wins in domestic cup competitions and the Premier League, the country’s top league. In 2023, the Premier League referred alleged breaches of its financial rules by City to an independent commission; City have denied the allegations.
A commission’s findings could have consequences for the club and for the record books. Other clubs finished behind City in some of the seasons under scrutiny, but deciding whether to change past results raises questions about how to treat competitions whose seasons have long since ended.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Leaving the trophies without a new winner could acknowledge that the competitions cannot be replayed and that a delayed award would not restore the lost drama or shared memories. It would also avoid treating second place as proof that another club would have won under the same circumstances, while still marking the seriousness of the findings.
The case against
Awarding the titles to the teams that finished behind City could recognise that rivals competed under rules they believe were breached and that stripping titles without replacing the winners may leave the harm unaddressed. Even years later, reassignment could affirm the value of fair competition, offer some recognition to affected clubs and supporters, and make clear that rule-breaking carries consequences.