Mike Dean backs Wayne Rooney’s conspiracy theory over Manchester City’s 2012 Premier League title win | OneFootball

The referee for Manchester City’s iconic 2012 Premier League title win has backed a conspiracy theory levered by former Manchester United attacker Wayne Rooney. 

Mike Dean managed 553 Premier League games during his 22-year career and at the end of the 2021-22 season, the 57-year-old continued to work as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) but retired fully 12 months later. 

It is no surprise that City versus Queens Park Rangers is near the top of his most memorable games as an official but there was one thing that, whether by design or accident, Dean claims helped Sergio Aguero and City deal their dramatic comeback. 

On the final day of the 2011-12 season, City entered the match level on points with their bitter rivals United and would have to match or better their result to lift the title, which they did.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side overcame Sunderland in a 1-0 win and thought they had won the league momentarily with City drawing level after Edin Dzeko scored after 92 minutes concurrently.

But with 93 minutes and 20 seconds on the clock, Aguero struck inside the penalty area to win Roberto Mancini his first Premier League title as City manager – and the club’s first in 44 years. 

In a recent appearance on The Overlap Live Fan Debate, Dean questioned why QPR booted the ball back to City after Dzeko’s equaliser – and it’s something that Rooney, who scored against Sunderland that day, has pointed out before.

“They (City) make it 2-2 and they (QPR) just kick it back and give it to them. And we were like, ‘What’s going on, why are they giving the ball back straight away?’. I said (that) in the ear piece,” Dean said.

“To kick off and give the ball straight back to them. Neil Swarbrick, the fourth official, said, ‘Keep switched, something is going to happen’. You just knew something was going to happen. You could just tell.

“What was strange about it, once QPR found out they were safe, Jamie Mackie was on the pitch celebrating while the game was still going on.”

Rooney chimed in on the incident and added: “They had loads of ex-City players in there as well.” Nedum Onuoha, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joey Barton, who got sent off after 55 minutes, had all played for City beforehand.

Nowadays, the tactic which QPR used – to smash the ball up to the corner flag – is not uncommon but Mark Hughes’ side made no attempt to suppress City’s ultra-attacking approach in extra time.