# Blank instead of Manchester City on trophies

> Manchester City’s trophies should have blanks instead of their name to show cheating.
- Title: Blank instead of Manchester City on trophies · the Guardian
- Summary: Manchester City’s trophies should have blanks instead of their name to show cheating. Manchester City’s unfair Premier League titles should be stripped due…
- Keywords: premier league, manchester city, independent commission, cheating, trophies, league cup, 2014, 2018, 2012, 2014 league cup, sunderland, lance armstrong
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/03/blank-instead-manchester-city-name-trophies-premier-league
- Published: 2026-10-03T19:00:08+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: premier league, manchester city, independent commission, cheating, trophies, league cup, 2014, 2018, 2012, 2014 league cup, sunderland, lance armstrong
## 2014 League Cup final
Sunderland led Manchester City 1-0 at half-time in the 2014 League Cup final.

> Yaya Touré equalised with a casually brilliant 30-yard clip 10 minutes after the break
## Independent commission report
City were involved in a prolonged and calculated act of cheating while Touré was paid via a dual contract.

> payments not recorded in an employment contract but instead recorded in a consultancy agreement
## 2014 League Cup outcome
City won 3-1 after Touré equalised 10 minutes into the second half.

> Yaya Touré equalised with a casually brilliant 30-yard clip 10 minutes after the break
## 2014 League Cup implications
Sunderland would have ended a 41-year trophy wait and qualified for Europa League if they won.

> Sunderland would not merely have ended a 41-year wait for a trophy
## 2018 Premier League title
Manchester City finished 19 points clear at the top to lift the Premier League trophy in 2018.

> Manchester City lift the Premier League trophy in 2018 after the club finished 19 points clear at the top
## 2017-18 season
City amassed 100 points with 15 points clear over Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham.

> the league was effectively over by the end of January with City 15 points clear
## 2012 Premier League title
Manchester City won the 2012 Premier League title with a 94th-minute winner by Sergio Agüero.

> Sergio Agüero’s 94th-minute winner to claim the 2012 Premier League title
## 2014 League Cup cheating
The independent commission found City’s cheating involved payments disguised in consultancy agreements.

> payments not recorded in an employment contract but instead recorded in a consultancy agreement
## 2018 Premier League title
Manchester City won the 2018 Premier League title with 19 points clear at the top.

> Manchester City lift the Premier League trophy in 2018 after the club finished 19 points clear at the top
## 2014 League Cup cheating impact
Sunderland would have qualified for Europa League if they won the 2014 League Cup.

> Sunderland would not merely have ended a 41-year wait for a trophy
## 2018 Premier League title implications
City’s 100 points in 2017-18 left rivals with little incentive to compete for league title.

> the league was effectively over by the end of January with City 15 points clear
## Key takeaway

Manchester City’s unfair Premier League titles should be stripped due to cheating revealed by an independent commission.