Sports · Football · 1 hr ago
Man City fans revive inflatable banana tradition amid financial case
Manchester City fans brought inflatable bananas to the Etihad Stadium for the Premier League match against Ipswich.
The display revived a tradition from the 1980s and 1990s, when fans used inflatables to lift the mood during difficult times for the club.
The gesture came as City faced criticism over a financial-rule verdict by an independent Premier League commission.
The commission found the club had breached league rules, while City deny wrongdoing and have appealed.
Manager Enzo Maresca said the controversy had brought fans, players and the club closer together, and welcomed the bananas as a show of support.
City's appeal is ongoing, and Maresca said his focus was on trying to win the next match.
Manchester City fans waved hundreds of inflatable bananas during the club’s Premier League match against Ipswich.
The display revived a tradition associated with City supporters in the 1980s and 1990s.
The match was City’s first Premier League home game since an independent commission ruled the club had breached financial rules.
City have appealed the ruling and say they have irrefutable evidence to support their position.
Manager Enzo Maresca said the club, team and fans had become more united amid the criticism.
- Who
- Manchester City fans, the club and manager Enzo Maresca.
- What
- Fans brought inflatable bananas to City’s Premier League match against Ipswich, reviving a tradition from the 1980s and 1990s.
- When
- Saturday, October 17, 2026.
- Where
- The Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
- Why
- The display revived a supporters’ tradition and was presented as a show of loyalty and unity amid criticism over the club’s financial case.
Manchester City
Independent commission
Financial-rule case
Manchester City
City maintain their innocence, have appealed the ruling and say they have irrefutable evidence.
Independent commission
The commission ruled that the club had breached financial rules between 2009 and 2018; ESPN reports it found more than 100 breaches.
City fans brought bananas and other inflatables to matches, beginning a tradition that returned in the 1980s and 1990s.
City supporters waved inflatable bananas at Anfield during the match against Liverpool.
City won 3-0 at Liverpool in their first match since the verdict.
City lost 4-2 to Paris St Germain.
City played Ipswich at home, with fans waving inflatable bananas.
- Premier League match
- Manchester City vs Ipswich
- Venue
- Etihad Stadium
- Supporters’ display
- Hundreds of inflatable bananas
- Financial-rule period
- 2009–2018
- Commission finding
- More than 100 breaches, according to ESPN
- City’s appeal
- The club says it has irrefutable evidence
3 sources
What people are saying
I think probably since the noise, I can see from my personal point of view, the fans, the club, the team, more together for sure.
I've said many times that I don't feel any kind of stress about the outside situation, because it's something that I don't control.
The message – this fan base has always been on a rollercoaster