Mike Dean Sheds Light on Controversial Manchester City Victory

Wayne Rooney’s Theory on Man City’s First Title

Former Premier League official Mike Dean has reignited the conversation around Wayne Rooney’s theory concerning Manchester City’s first Premier League title win.

Sergio Agüero’s memorable last-minute goal during the 2011-12 season finale secured a dramatic 3-2 victory for Manchester City over Queens Park Rangers (QPR). This win allowed City to surpass Rooney’s Manchester United and claim their first league title since 1968.

Needing a win at the Etihad Stadium, City faced a significant challenge as they were down against a ten-man QPR, who were fighting against relegation as the match approached the end. Remarkably, goals from Edin Džeko and Agüero in stoppage time changed the course of the match and brought glory to City.

Rooney, who was part of the Manchester United team at that time, has voiced his belief that QPR contributed to City’s victory. He pointed out Joey Barton’s reckless red card, the presence of several ex-Liverpool and Manchester City players in the QPR ranks, and the fact that QPR returned the ball to City immediately after Džeko equalized as evidence of this notion.

In a discussion in April, Rooney remarked, “That was definitely a tough one. But didn’t [QPR goalkeeper] Paddy Kenny turn the ball in for two goals? QPR knew they were safe and then City found it at 2-2, and they just kicked the ball back to them.”

He also mentioned specific players, saying, “They had [ex-Liverpool player] Djibril Cissé on the pitch, and [ex-Man City midfielder] Joey Barton was sent off for acting foolishly. Who else was there? [Former Man City players] Shaun Wright-Phillips and Nedum Onuoha were also involved.”

Mike Dean Reflects on the “Odd” Victory

Dean, who officiated the match between Manchester City and QPR, acknowledged that the conclusion of that game was somewhat “odd.” He revealed that he was puzzled by the actions of the QPR players during the closing moments of the match.

“[City] equalized, and then QPR just kicked it back to them,” Dean stated during an appearance on The Overlap Fan Debate. “We were all like, ‘What’s happening here? Why are they returning the ball immediately?’ I mentioned this through my earpiece.”

He added, “To kick off and hand the ball right back to them seemed strange. Neil Swarbrick, the fourth official, remarked to stay alert because something was about to unfold. You could just sense that something unusual was happening.”

Dean also noted that once QPR understood they had secured their survival, Jamie Mackie celebrated on the pitch while the game was still ongoing.

While Rooney’s comments may stem from unfounded speculation, Dean’s insights only serve to stimulate the conspiracy theories surrounding that memorable match. Ultimately, the idea that QPR intentionally facilitated Manchester City’s victory remains a theory without concrete evidence.

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