Tony Pulis feels cheated over Man City financial breaches
Former Stoke City manager Tony Pulis says he feels cheated after Manchester City were found guilty of financial rule breaches, reflecting on the 2011 FA Cup final.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Former Stoke manager Tony Pulis reacts to Manchester City's financial rule verdict
- Pulis admits feeling cheated over the 2011 FA Cup final defeat to City
- Manchester City's spending and wages vastly outweighed Stoke's resources at the time
- The former boss expects points deductions and heavy fines rather than returned trophies
Following the major football news regarding Manchester City being found guilty of breaking the majority of their financial rules, reactions have poured in from figures connected to affected clubs. Among them is former Stoke City manager Tony Pulis, who opened up to BBC Sport about how the verdict has left a sour taste in his mouth regarding past encounters.
Pulis reflected on leading Stoke to the 2011 FA Cup final, describing it as the absolute highlight of his 50-year career in football as both a player and manager. That May afternoon remains deeply etched in the memories of travelling Stoke supporters who journeyed to Wembley dreaming of capturing English football's most prestigious club knockout competition for the first time.
At the time, Manchester City were embarking on their era of dominance in English football. Although they had not claimed a major trophy for 35 years prior, their squad was built with transfer fees and wage structures far beyond anything Stoke City could ever hope to match. Fans had arrived from all corners of the globe, spending fortunes just to witness the historic occasion.
The Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) are designed to ensure fair competition among clubs by limiting financial losses. Manchester City's prolonged legal battle and subsequent findings of multiple rule breaches have reignited debates surrounding the integrity of domestic titles won during the peak of their financial investment period.
Pulis also highlighted the dedication of the Coates family, Stoke's long-standing owners who continuously financed their local professional club through decades of ups and downs. For everyone associated with Stoke, it was their rare day in the sun, where smaller clubs dare to dream against the financial odds.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The sting of the defeat feels entirely different now in light of the recent verdict. Yaya Toure, who scored the decisive winner at Wembley, was reportedly earning ten times the wages of any Stoke player and had cost more in transfer fees than Stoke's entire starting eleven combined when arriving from Barcelona in July 2010.
"Man City? I feel cheated - when do Stoke City get our FA Cup?"
Tony Pulis
While Pulis does not genuinely expect Manchester City to hand back the 2011 FA Cup trophy or winners' medals—suggesting points deductions and massive fines are much more realistic outcomes—the sense of injustice remains. He emphasized that regardless of what happens next, Stoke will never get back that day or the chance to celebrate honestly earned silverware around Stoke-on-Trent the way City did after breaking the rules.
Source: BBC Sport
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