Manchester City supporters booed the Premier League anthem and filled Etihad Stadium with inflatable bananas on Saturday in a show of defiance during the club's first top-flight home match since being found guilty of breaching financial rules. Phil Foden scored on his return from suspension as City defeated Ipswich Town 2-0 to extend their unbeaten run to seven consecutive league victories and move six points clear at the summit. According to BBC Sport, manager Enzo Maresca became the first Premier League boss in history to win his opening seven matches in charge.
The atmosphere at the ground reflected the turbulent backdrop facing the club. Tens of thousands of supporters jeered when the league anthem sounded over the speakers before kick-off, then switched to chanting 'City, City, City'. The crowd of 60,817 set a new attendance record for Etihad Stadium, with fans creating surreal scenes by waving yellow inflatables while expressing their displeasure at the league's decision.
City's guilty verdict on 114 Premier League financial charges sent shockwaves through English football in late September. ESPN reported that the independent panel found City had declared £949.94 million in commercial revenue from Abu Dhabi sponsors between 2009 and 2018, yet only £119.25 million was actually paid by those sponsors. The charges relate to breaches spanning the 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons, with the club accused of creating 'sham contracts' to inflate sponsorship deals by £830 million. According to ESPN, City had appealed the guilty verdict by 16 October, with a separate sanctions process also beginning to determine what punishment the club would face.
How did fans respond to the verdict?
Hundreds of inflatable bananas were placed on seats throughout the home sections before kick-off, transforming the stadium into a sea of yellow. The inflatables harked back to the late 1980s, when what started as light-hearted humour became one of English football's most memorable fan crazes. They had appeared in smaller numbers at Liverpool the previous week, but Saturday's display was on an entirely different scale. The supporters' group 1894 promoted the banana display as a way to inject fun and unity amid the club's conflict with football authorities.
Foden, who had been suspended following a red card against Manchester United on 13 September, acknowledged the fans' impact after netting in the 19th minute—his first goal of 2026.
You can tell they are behind us and they're pushing us,he said.
It's nice to play at home and you can hear how loud they are. They're giving us that extra boost that we need.
What makes Maresca's start remarkable?
Maresca took charge following Pep Guardiola's departure after 10 seasons and 20 trophies, a daunting succession challenge. Yet City's record under the Italian remains flawless: seven wins from seven, with no points dropped despite falling behind against Bournemouth and playing for more than an hour with 10 men at Manchester United. This represents City's best start to a league season in 129 years. Only Chelsea in 2005-06 (winning their first nine matches) and Liverpool in 2019-20 (winning their first eight) have matched or exceeded this achievement in Premier League history.
Maresca expressed surprise at his own success.
For sure I didn't expect to win seven out of seven,he said after the match.
We are working well and working good. I'm very happy especially with the situation in general. Today we controlled the game for 95 minutes. We created chances, we scored. We finished with a little bit of suffering together but overall, it is good.
On Foden's impressive performance, Maresca added:
I said since day one that I love Phil. I know him from years ago and I know how good he is. It's a matter of helping him to again be one of the best players in the Premier League.
How are players coping with off-field turmoil?
Despite the external pressures surrounding the club, Maresca insisted his squad remained focused and motivated.
They are not worried about people who judge from outside because they know people are trying to judge them. Inside, I promise the players are happy. They're getting credit and I give credit to them.
The manager praised the collective effort in maintaining concentration through the controversy.
First of all, I am very happy because it's a matter of winning games in this business. We were able to win seven in a row and what made me very happy was day by day with the players, the way they are working and how I can see them improving. Today I thought we controlled the game, created chances and [were] good off the ball. We are doing well and I think that's the most important thing.
Maresca felt the air of defiance from supporters even before kick-off.
The environment was very good. The fans, the club and the players are all together on this journey.
What happens next for City?
Manchester City are scheduled to host AEK Athens in the Champions League on 20 October 2026 as they pursue success on multiple fronts. More significantly, the independent commission must decide what sanctions the club will face. Possible outcomes include a points deduction, a fine, or removal from the Premier League, though the exact timeline for that decision remains unclear.
The guilty verdict marked the culmination of a lengthy process. The Premier League charged City in February 2023, with the independent hearing beginning in September 2024 and lasting 10 weeks before the verdict was delivered.
