Manchester United fans are planning to bring back a famous ticker banner which mocked Man City’s trophy drought after the club were found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules.
The banner first appeared in Old Trafford’s Stretford End back in 2000.
At the time the banner read ’24 years’, highlighting that Man City’s last trophy had come in the 1976 League Cup, with an additional year added each season.
Roberto Mancini vowed his Man City side would be responsible for taking down the banner, which they achieved by beating Stoke in the 2011 FA Cup final.
Man City players posed post-match alongside a new version of the banner which had reset the ticker to zero.
At the time Man United fans took down their Old Trafford banner, the ticker had reached 35 years.
Man United fans are preparing to bring back a banner referencing the last time Man City won a trophy, after the club were found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules
The banner was removed after Man City ended their trophy drought by winning the 2011 FA Cup
Man City players had posed in front of a revised banner which reset the ticker to zero
The 2011 triumph had marked the start of a trophy-laden period for Man City, with the club’s eight Premier League titles, the Champions League, a further three FA Cups, and seven League Cups among their list of honours since.
Man City were last week found guilty by an independent commission of breaking Premier League rules over a nine-year period by illegally pumping in more than £900million.
The club, who have appealed the decision, could be hit by a sanction that could see them relegated, with trophies stripped.
Man United’s The Red Army fans’ group have referenced the possibility of Man City being stripped of titles by planning to bring back the ticker.
A new banner is expected to be in the Stretford End for Saturday’s Premier League match against Tottenham.
The updated version will feature 50 years, ticking over towards 51, with the 1976 League Cup again being viewed by Man United fans as their rivals’ last triumph.
Man United boss Michael Carrick, who was part of the Red Devils’ side that missed out on the 2012 Premier League title on the final day to Man City, has admitted emotions cannot be erased from the period regardless of the eventual outcome in the disciplinary case.
‘I’ve got my own questions about it. It’s affected me personally in different ways over a period of time,’ Carrick said.
Man United boss Michael Carrick admitted receiving a belated medal would not change the emotions at the time of beating and losing out of Man City for trophies in his playing career
‘But as the case is going now, I don’t know where that stands and how it’s going to end up. So we’ll just have to wait and see.
‘What I will say, the sooner it gets sorted, I think for everyone’s benefit, is essential.’
‘Regardless of anything, a medal anyway, in any sport in history, I think later on you get the medal and it’s proved at different times.
‘It’s the moment that you strive for, to win and achieve in that moment.
‘So the medal here or there, not getting blown away, but that doesn’t bring the feeling of whether you initially win or you don’t win. That’s essentially what we’re all in for.’
