Rio Ferdinand has joked that he wants Joleon Lescott’s 2012 Premier League winners medal hand delivered if Manchester City are stripped of their titles amid an investigation into their finances.
City could face a heavy points deduction after they were charged with 115 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules regarding sponsors and contracts across a nine-year time span in February.
Everton were handed the harshest points deduction in the history of the English top flight last week for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules, which plunged them into 19th in the table.
City and Chelsea now run the risk of relegation from the Premier League after Everton’s deduction set a powerful precedent, according to a former financial advisor to the champions.
Stefan Borson warned City to look over their shoulders following the news, and Ferdinand, who was part of the United side that came second to City in 2012, joked to Lescott on his FIVE YouTube channel that he wants his medal.
Rio Ferdinand (left) has joked that he wants Joleon Lescott’s (right) 2012 Premier League winners medal if Manchester City are stripped of their title
Lescott was an important player for City as they won their first ever Premier League title over a decade ago
‘If anything happens with City and they get punished, Joleon, I want YOUR medal,’ he told his fellow TNT Sports punit. ‘Hand-delivered to my house and I’m wearing that medal. I’ll take that off Joleon.
‘That Aguero moment has gone, right. So Joleon, just make sure you bring the medal yeah.’
City won the title in dramatic fashion in 2012 when Sergio Aguero scored deep into stoppage time against QPR to ensure City won the Premier League on goal difference ahead of United.
United had beaten Sunderland 1-0 on the day with their game finishing earlier and many began to believe they had been successful in their bid to lift their latest league trophy before Aguero struck.
Ferdinand played the full 90 minutes for United on that day, with Lescott played the full match for City in their 3-2 win against QPR.
City beat rivals Manchester United on goal difference after beating QPR 3-2 on the final day
United thought they had done enough to secure the title win but Sergio Aguero scored a dramatic late goal for City
City were charged with 115 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules regarding sponsors and contracts across a nine-year time span in February
It’s incredibly unlikely City will be stripped of any titles achieved during the period for which they are being investigated.
It will take a long time for a conclusion to come from the alleged breaches.
This season, Pep Guardiola’s side are top of the Premier League as they look to retain their title and win their eighth Premier League title, with their first being in that famous 2012 campaign.
United, meanwhile, have won one league title since that year, which was the following campaign in 2012/12.
