Manchester United Fans Revive “51” Banner Amid Manchester City Charges

Manchester United supporters have revived an old piece of derby theatre at Old Trafford, with the famous City title-drought counter returning to the Stretford End during the 1-1 draw with Tottenham.

The display now reads “51”, reflecting the view among sections of the United support that Manchester City’s modern honours should not count while the club faces allegations of 115 breaches of Premier League financial regulations. For those holding the banner, the count has started again — and, in their words, is still rising.

From the old drought to a new argument

1. Before Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s 2008 takeover, City were widely regarded as the junior half of Manchester football, living in United’s considerable shadow.
2. Sir Alex Ferguson once dismissed City as a small club with a small-club mentality, arguing that United were all they talked about following Carlos Tevez’s move across Manchester.
3. United fans made the point more visually in the Stretford End, where a counter recorded the years City had gone without a trophy.
4. That count reached 36 years: City’s previous major success had been the 1976 League Cup before they beat Stoke City 1-0 in the 2011 FA Cup final, with Yaya Touré scoring the decisive goal.
5. City then became one of English football’s dominant sides, collecting 26 trophies from 2011 onwards.
6. Now the financial case against the club has given United fans a reason to bring the old counter back, this time displaying 51.

United fans reject City’s trophy haul

The Premier League’s independent commission is considering allegations that City broke 115 financial rules. The case has hardened the stance of United supporters who believe the trophies won during the club’s rise are tainted by the alleged irregularities.

Another Stretford End banner praised Rui Pinto, the founder of Football Leaks, describing him as a computer genius. The Football Leaks material helped set the investigation into motion.

In the supporters’ reckoning, none of City’s 26 honours since 2011 carries full legitimacy:

It is a familiar Manchester rivalry, simply fitted with a new number. City’s long wait ended in 2011; United’s Stretford End insists the clock is running once more.