Former Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has revealed his feelings of betrayal following the club's loss to Manchester City in the 2011 FA Cup final. This admission coincides with City's recent confirmation of guilt on 114 accounts related to financial rule breaches in the Premier League.
The match at Wembley saw the Mancunians edge past Stoke with a narrow 1-0 victory. This trophy marked a significant milestone, being City's first in the modern era and paving the way for a period of dominance.
In his column for BBC Sport, Pulis shared that Stoke fans are now questioning whether they are to be recognised as the rightful winners of that FA Cup.
When are we getting our FA Cup back? That's exactly what I thought. Although the process is far from complete, with an appeal expected, I must say that this verdict and the entire situation have left quite a sour taste.
While the former boss does not expect City to voluntarily return the trophy or the winners' medals to his club, he is clearly frustrated by the events that have unfolded.
I’m not expecting anyone at Manchester City to ring me or the club and offer to return the 2011 FA Cup and the winners' medals their players received. I don’t seriously believe that any other trophies or titles will be returned either. Points deductions and hefty fines seem far more likely. But I still feel cheated.
No definitive punishment has been handed down to Manchester City as of yet. Possible sanctions could range from points deductions to hefty fines or even expulsion from the league.
