Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has previously suspected foul play surrounding Manchester City's Premier League title triumph back in 2012, and Mike Dean has addressed the theory
Mike Dean
Mike Dean backed Wayne Rooney's conspiracy surrounding the 2012 Premier League title race
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Ex-Premier League referee Mike Dean has boldly backed Wayne Rooney's claim of foul play surrounding Manchester City's 2012 title triumph. The former top-flight official has revealed that there were elements of QPR's performance against City that were surprising after they survived the drop.
Manchester United needed to beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in order to keep pressure on Roberto Mancini's side, and the Reds knew they would win the league if City slipped up. United kept their side of the bargain as they overcame the Black Cats 1-0, and with the scores level in the North West, Sir Alex Ferguson's side were set to become Premier League champions.
However, Sergio Aguero raced through, firing past Paddy Kenny to create the memorable title win. However, Rooney has been vocal over the years there was something not quite right about how City claimed the title, with QPR learning of their own safety from relegation while the game was still going on.
Dean, who was in the middle for the game between City and the west London club, reinforced Rooney's belief as he described certain aspects of the game as "strange".
"It was one of those games, as all the referees that week when the appointments came out, we all wanted that game," he said.
"I couldn't believe I had the game, to get the game, the stakes and how it went. We always knew United were going to beat Sunderland, the way it transpired, we all thought City would win and it went the wrong way.
"What was strange about it, we elude to the end of the game but once QPR found out they were safe, I spoke to Clint Hill about it, once they knew they were safe, Jamie Mackie is on the pitch celebrating while the game is going on.
Sergio Aguero.
Sergio Aguero scored a dramatic winner to claim the title for Manchester City and deny rivals Man United
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"They make it 2-2 and they just kick it back, and we were like, 'what's going on, why are they giving the ball back straightaway?' I said [that] in the ear piece.
"It was a strange one. To kick off and give the ball straight back to them. Neil Swarbrick, the fourth official, said, 'Keep switched on, something is going to happen.' You just knew something was going to happen. You could just tell.
"But I still can't get my head around why they kicked the ball straight back, I just couldn't... I don't know."
Rooney added: "They had loads of ex-City and Liverpool players in the team, I know Joey tried his best. But Djibril Cisse came out and said he was celebrating with City after it. Here's another charge."
Wayne Rooney.
Wayne Rooney has made his feelings clear on that famous day
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The former United striker took aim at some of the QPR players for their role in denying United another title under Sir Alex. Back in April, he said: "Obviously that was a tough one that.
"But again didn't Paddy Kenny turn the ball in, two goals, QPR knew they were safe and City get it to 2-2, then they just boot the ball back to them.
"They had (Djibril) Cisse on the pitch, Joey Barton got sent off for acting stupid. Who else was it, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Nedum Onuoha diving about."