Tony Pulis has declared that Stoke City were 'cheated' out of the 2011 FA Cup after Manchester City were found guilty of widespread financial rule breaches. The former Potters manager has directly connected the verdict to his side's 1-0 defeat at Wembley fifteen years ago, reigniting a long-held sense of injustice among supporters.

Pulis, who led Stoke to their first and only FA Cup final, made the comments in a column this week. His reaction follows the Premier League's confirmation that Manchester City were guilty on all but one of more than 100 charges related to financial regulations. The alleged breaches spanned from 2009 to 2018, a period that includes their 2011 triumph. City have denied any wrongdoing and are expected to appeal the verdict.

Linking spending to the final

The 68-year-old pointed to the vast financial disparity at the time as evidence of an unfair playing field. Yaya Touré, who scored the winning goal for City, was reportedly earning around £180,000 per week after his £24 million move from Barcelona. Pulis noted that figure was ten times the wage of any Stoke player and that Touré's total cost exceeded that of Stoke's entire starting eleven. "When do we get our FA Cup?" Pulis asked, though he admitted, "I don’t expect Manchester City to offer back the 2011 FA Cup and the winners’ medals their players received."

He suggested more realistic penalties for City would be a points deduction and a substantial fine. The Premier League's investigation has been ongoing for eight years, and City chair Khaldoon al-Mubarak recently reiterated the club's position that they have done nothing wrong. A club spokesperson said the process remains ongoing, consistent with a statement from February 2023.

A modern context

The historical grievance surfaces as the current Stoke side builds positive momentum in the Championship. Steven Schumacher's team sits seventh in the table with 13 points from eight games, enjoying a five-match unbeaten run. Their recent fixtures have yielded four wins and a draw, including comeback victories over Sheffield United and Watford. This present-day form provides a stark contrast to the lingering 'what if' from 2011.

Pulis acknowledged that Stoke fans will demand the trophy be reassigned and that other affected clubs may explore legal options. The debate over sporting integrity and financial fairness is now squarely back on the agenda. For now, the focus for the squad shifts to maintaining their league form, with a trip to face 15th-placed Bolton Wanderers scheduled for October 10.

The original report is at The Guardian Football