Memories of the 80s sparked a banana fight among Manchester City

During the victory over Liverpool, many Manchester City fans were suddenly seen holding inflated bananas. At first glance, it may seem like a joke. But there is a deep history behind it.

City fans first picked up the banana during a difficult time for the club. According to The Mirror, a man named Frank Newton first put up a fake banana in the gallery. It was during the 1987-88 season. The old Main Road stadium was home to Plymouth Argyle. City were relegated from England's top flight to the second tier.

The reason behind this act was a tribute to the club's beloved star Imre Varadi. Varadi scored 31 goals in 81 matches for City. One fan called him 'Imre Banana'. The team was lagging behind in the game at that time. So the fans resorted to black humor. This humor was to distract the mind from the boring game on the field. First, the slogan was named after this striker. Then the banana became popular. It is said that 10 thousand fans went to watch the game at Stoke City's ground on Boxing Day that year. They all had various kinds of bananas with them.

It was a bad time for English football, not just in Manchester. The dilapidated stadiums were filled with violent fans. Hooliganism was so rampant that the clubs were temporarily banned from European competitions. This ban came after the Heysel disaster in 1985, when 39 people died in fan violence during the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus. According to another legend, the first banana came to City's game to cheer them up.

City fans have been pulling out the fruit repeatedly on special occasions since the 1980s. They did so on the day of the big 3-0 win at Liverpool. It was City's first match after a long international break. So it was the first opportunity for fans to react to the financial scandal verdict. A few days ago, City were found guilty of 114 of 115 charges of breaking financial rules. The club faces severe penalties, including the loss of many titles and mandatory relegation. Some large-scale bananas therefore became a way to distract the fans.

As Manchester's star-studded team took to the field, Liverpool fans booed Erling Haaland and his teammates. Banners also read about City's various irregularities. Outside the stadium, fans from both teams engaged in heated arguments, using obscene gestures and swearing. As the City team bus arrived, Liverpool fans chanted, "You are traitors, you know what you are."

The city has long since appealed the independent commission's ruling. No one expects a quick decision on punishment under the current circumstances.

City fans have stood by the club despite the serious allegations. Oasis guitarist and avid City fan Noel Gallagher told The Athletic that the prospect of relegation to the second tier doesn't bother him much. "Let them do whatever they want. I've seen worse relegation with this club than you can imagine. (...) If this club has to play a thousand games in empty stadiums in Uganda, I'll be there," he said.