Paul Scholes has made his position crystal clear: if Manchester City are stripped of Premier League titles, he wants the medal that could come with them.
The Manchester United legend has reignited the debate over what should happen to honours won by City if the club’s punishment eventually includes title removals.
An independent commission recently found Manchester City guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules across a nine-season period from 2009/10 to 2017/18. The commission also upheld most of the allegations concerning the club’s failure to cooperate with the league’s investigation. City deny wrongdoing and have now lodged an appeal against the verdict.
Any decision to remove titles would create a major question over whether the honours should simply be erased or retrospectively awarded to the teams that finished second.
For Scholes, there is no hesitation over what he would do if a medal became available.
The former England midfielder was part of the Manchester United team that famously lost the 2011/12 Premier League title to City on goal difference.
United had appeared to be heading towards another league triumph before Sergio Aguero produced one of the most dramatic finishes in Premier League history, scoring against QPR deep into stoppage time to snatch the title from their neighbours.
That painful finale remains one of the defining moments of the rivalry between the two Manchester clubs.
Scholes’ former United team-mate Wayne Rooney has taken a different view of the medal debate, saying he would not feel comfortable accepting a Premier League medal retrospectively if City were stripped of their title.
Scholes, however, has no such reservations.
In a post on his Instagram Story, Scholes wrote: “Keep hearing ex-team-mates saying they want trophies [taken] off [City], but they don’t want their medals…
“I’m greedy, I want my medal.”
The exchange highlights the unusual situation facing English football as the consequences of the City case continue to unfold.
The Premier League has yet to confirm any punishment for Manchester City. Possible sanctions remain part of a separate process, while City’s appeal could affect the eventual outcome.
The case has already triggered a wider discussion among former players, clubs and supporters about what should happen to titles won during the period covered by the financial charges.
For Manchester United, the 2011/12 campaign is particularly significant because the club finished level on points with City and missed out on the title on goal difference.
That is why Scholes’ latest comments have added another twist to a story that could reshape the historical record of the Premier League if sanctions ultimately include the removal of honours.
For now, though, the medals remain a hypothetical prize.
City have appealed, and the final outcome of the case is still to be determined.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
