Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has added fuel to Wayne Rooney's long-held conspiracy theory about Manchester City's dramatic 2012 title triumph. Dean, who officiated the decisive match between City and Queens Park Rangers, admitted he was baffled by QPR's actions after City equalised in stoppage time.
Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, Dean recalled the moment Mario Balotelli made it 2-2: "What was strange about it... they just kick it back, and we were like, 'what's going on, why are they giving the ball back straightaway?'" He added that fourth official Neil Swarbrick warned him to "keep switched on, something is going to happen."
Rooney, a United player at the time, has repeatedly voiced scepticism about QPR's defending, saying it "doesn't sit right" with him. During the same interview, he pointed out that Djibril Cisse was celebrating with City players after the final whistle. However, Cisse has since denied rolling over, insisting he was simply happy for his friend Samir Nasri and relieved that QPR stayed up.
Joey Barton, who was sent off during the match, also dismissed Rooney's claims as "untrue." Despite these denials, Dean's admission adds weight to the conspiracy theory that QPR may have eased off once they knew they were safe from relegation.
