Full Breakdown
Tony Pulis says Stoke City was “cheated” after Manchester City found guilty of Premier League financial rule breaches
By Drooid · · How we work
The 2011 FA Cup final and the recent Premier League verdict
Stoke City lost the 2011 FA Cup final 1-0 to Manchester City when Yaya Touré scored in the 74th minute. More than a decade later, the Premier League announced that Manchester City had been found guilty of the vast majority of the 115 financial-rule charges brought against the club. The ruling, released on a recent Friday, has reignited calls from former Stoke manager Tony Pulis and supporters for the trophy to be reassigned.
Background: Manchester City’s financial-rule case
The Premier League’s investigation, launched in February 2023, covered alleged breaches spanning the 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons. Charges included inaccurate financial reporting, failure to disclose former manager Roberto Mancini’s pay, and incomplete details of player payments between 2010-11 and 2015-16. According to Daily Mail Sport, the club was found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges; Stoke Sentinel reports the figure as 114 of 115 charges. Manchester City has denied wrongdoing and indicated it will appeal.
Data & Statistics
- Yaya Touré’s transfer fee from Barcelona in 2010: £24 million.
- Reported weekly wage for Touré at the time of the final: ? £180,000.
- Premier League charges against Manchester City: 115 total; 114 found guilty (per two outlets).
- Between 2009-18, Manchester City won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven EFL Cups and one Champions League.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Both figures convey the same proportion but differ in wording. No official sanction has been announced, and the timeline for any potential penalties remains undisclosed due to the confidentiality of the ongoing legal process.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our club. We will not give them that opportunity,” — Manchester City’s
What’s Next
Manchester City has confirmed it will appeal the Premier League decision. The club’s legal team, along with representatives from other Premier League clubs, is reportedly reviewing possible actions, including claims for lost revenue that could total up to £800 million. Stoke City and its supporters are expected to continue lobbying the football authorities for the 2011 FA Cup trophy, while the Premier League is expected to issue a final ruling later in the year.