Former Premier League star Djibril Cisse has rubbished a conspiracy theory cited by Wayne Rooney that suggested his Queen's Park Rangers side intentionally handed Manchester City their first league title in 2012.
Cisse was on the pitch in QPR colours on that fateful May day over a decade ago when Roberto Mancini's men won 3-2 at the death thanks to a now-iconic strike from Sergio Aguero.
The goal - and Martin Tyler's memorable commentary of it - wrote the Manchester side into the history books as they lifted the first of what would be eight top-flight titles.
But victory at the Etihad came at their crosstown rivals Manchester United's direct expense, with Sir Alex Ferguson's side poised to claim the title had Man City lost or drawn with the London club.
In recent years, Rooney had voiced skepticism surrounding the late winner, arguing that it was 'strange' that QPR appeared to have kicked the ball back to a Man City player on the heels of their opponents' late equaliser.
Rooney also accused Cisse of 'celebrating after the game with the City players' after the final whistle.
Now, the former Liverpool star has hit out at Rooney's accusations, dubbing the claims disrespectful, and seeking to put the record straight.
'I'm not going to take this accusation any longer,' Cisse told FourFourTwo. 'I was celebrating with Samir Nasri.
'I didn't celebrate with Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero or anybody else. I celebrated with my brother, Samir, who had been a friend of mine for 15 years.
'I was happy for my friend and also that we managed to stay up. I don't care about Man City. My friend finally won the Premier League after many years in England and I was happy for him and also for me. That's all.'
Cisse added that Rooney was unfair for putting the blame of Man United missing out on the Premier League title, when the fact was that they have 'dropped points throughout the season.'
'What Rooney said isn't cool,' Cisse continued. 'He took out his frustrations on me. It's not my fault.
'If we had wanted Man City to win the league, would it not have been a little risky to have waited until the very last minute to let them score?
'We could have let them win 4–0 or 5–0 and gone home. But we played a strong team, the manager wanted to win that game. It wasn’t our reserve team.'
QPR had been battling relegation and only results elsewhere around the grounds on the final day of the season stopped the club from dropping down into the Championship.
For all of Cisse's arguments however, Rooney could be set to continue sharing his theory.
The former England international discussed the topic as recently as this April - but was lightly teased by Jamie Carragher after resharing his stance.
Featuring on The Overlap Fan Debate - courtesy of Sky Bet, Rooney had been asked about the result by a gloating fan, and quickly launched into his claim.
'Obviously that was a tough one that,' Rooney said. '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.'
Carragher joked in response: 'So, you've got over it?', prompting Rooney to reply 'That should have been looked into.'
The former Liverpool star laughed, teasing: 'It's not just 115 now it's 116. That's the headline, "Wayne Rooney wants Manchester City looked into for the QPR game".'
Coeaiklmty
0
his team lost but his team stayed up in the epl so he was celebrating for his team and his friends team....FROONEY is just bad minded from then and still is lol
Sign of a true champion and not a mind of losers
Coeaiklmty
0
ROONEY IS JUST A PISSED OFF BAD MIND ED BUSTER....WHEN MICHAEL O SPEAK THE TRUTH WHAT THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS THAT GOALS WISE HE WAS MILES APART OF ROONEY WHEN THEY WERE PLAYING IN THEIR LATE TEENS WHAT DID FROONEY SAYS EVEN THO THE STATISTICS THERE TO PROVE MICHAEL RIGHT....SO DONT MATTER ABOUT WAYNE FROONEY YAAH CISSE HE IS JUST BEEN A SISSY
Then Rooney is way better than Owen statistics wise in terms of your goals you are bragging about..
Coeaiklmty
0
Man. united are the real cheaters... during Ferguson time they cheated If they wanted to win why didn't dey win all their matches? they where puting their hopes on QPR to win City for man. united to win. the league. since it didn't happen in their favour. Man. city cheated. That's while man. united will continue to suffer and they will not recover from Sir Alex Ferguson Sins. cheaters United
Upon all our cheating stuff you are claiming about. We were not charged of 115 crimes.. Hope you take note!
Coeaiklmty
0
Most of this guy here didn't watch that match. go back and watch the match and see what City did that day you will know that Rooney is saying nonsense. You have lost accept it and move on. I don't like man. united legend and fans they talk too much and senselessly.
Perhaps you didn't watch the match, that's while you think Mark is saying rubbish. Not everyone like, people who have made impact.. your comment implicate that you are an enemy
GaddafiJamal
0
lie ? I'm sure you're a kid who started watching football in 2020 lol 😆 😂
Aswear, A Very Young Kid 🤣
notabclmsz
1
Most of this guy here didn't watch that match. go back and watch the match and see what City did that day you will know that Rooney is saying nonsense. You have lost accept it and move on. I don't like man. united legend and fans they talk too much and senselessly.
notabclmsz
4
Man. united are the real cheaters... during Ferguson time they cheated If they wanted to win why didn't dey win all their matches? they where puting their hopes on QPR to win City for man. united to win. the league. since it didn't happen in their favour. Man. city cheated. That's while man. united will continue to suffer and they will not recover from Sir Alex Ferguson Sins. cheaters United
Litelntz
0
what's cisse saying is what everyone can say..... but it's obvious, your team lost and your celebrating, how??? I thought as Rooney for long time, QPR deliberately handed that league to man city......allegedly see now they keep struggling
his team lost but his team stayed up in the epl so he was celebrating for his team and his friends team....FROONEY is just bad minded from then and still is lol
Litelntz
0
ROONEY IS JUST A PISSED OFF BAD MIND ED BUSTER....WHEN MICHAEL O SPEAK THE TRUTH WHAT THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS THAT GOALS WISE HE WAS MILES APART OF ROONEY WHEN THEY WERE PLAYING IN THEIR LATE TEENS WHAT DID FROONEY SAYS EVEN THO THE STATISTICS THERE TO PROVE MICHAEL RIGHT....SO DONT MATTER ABOUT WAYNE FROONEY YAAH CISSE HE IS JUST BEEN A SISSY
Mewikmtuz
0
Why is it that Cisse did not celebrate with is French pal after that day or on a personal phone call, the picture am seeing tells me that definitely something was fishy and that Wayne might be right
noob
Mewikmtuz
0
It was a fixed match
lame
wisely50
0
shit lie
lie ? I'm sure you're a kid who started watching football in 2020 lol 😆 😂
donreal1990
0
try to put your failure on other people is a Shame ,, Arguroooooo was legendary accept it
shit lie
donreal1990
0
Why is it that Cisse did not celebrate with is French pal after that day or on a personal phone call, the picture am seeing tells me that definitely something was fishy and that Wayne might be right
exactly, ask him...... don't mind that guy...
donreal1990
1
what's cisse saying is what everyone can say..... but it's obvious, your team lost and your celebrating, how??? I thought as Rooney for long time, QPR deliberately handed that league to man city......allegedly see now they keep struggling
Tocilostyz
0
That one was not intentionally, we almost celebrated but Man City fought back....
wisely50
0
Why is it that Cisse did not celebrate with is French pal after that day or on a personal phone call, the picture am seeing tells me that definitely something was fishy and that Wayne might be right
try to put your failure on other people is a Shame ,, Arguroooooo was legendary accept it
wisely50
1
being a bad loser is the worst thing on earth.. city won that game due to determination and Argurooooo would be one of the best commentary of all time .. Manchester united should accept it , United fans should it .. Can we also say Aston villa gave city the league on the last day few years ago , because villa were 2 up in the 74th of game ,, don't forget Steven G a Liverpool legend was the manger at villa.. accept it city won
racklnsuy
1
That's it, Rooney's accusation of Mancity winning the EPL by cheating added to the existing 115 criminal allegations = 116!
bohbcdikmr
0
It was a fixed match
wuhabdmopz
1
Why is it that Cisse did not celebrate with is French pal after that day or on a personal phone call, the picture am seeing tells me that definitely something was fishy and that Wayne might be right