Former Manchester City striker Imre Varadi has praised supporters who revived the club's iconic inflatable banana tradition during Sunday's 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield, describing the display as a joyful moment that reconnected fans with the club's history during a period of uncertainty.
Varadi earned the nickname 'Imre Banana' from City supporters during his two-year tenure at the club in the late 1980s, when the team oscillated between divisions. The inflatable banana craze emerged during the 1987-88 season after City had dropped to the second tier following relegation from the top flight. What began as a spontaneous gesture by individual supporters gradually expanded into a widespread phenomenon, with dozens of inflatables appearing at matches throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, and sporadic appearances continuing into recent decades.
The timing of Sunday's banana display carried particular significance. Manchester City's match against Liverpool marked the club's first fixture since an independent commission found it guilty of 114 charges related to breaches of Premier League financial rules spanning 2009-10 to 2017-18. According to reporting on the verdict, the commission determined that City used "sham contracts" to disguise more than £830m in secret funding. With potential sanctions including points deductions or expulsion from the Premier League looming, supporters adopted the banana symbolism as a defiant reference to the club's resilience during its turbulent 1980s period as a yo-yo club.
The supporters' group 1894 orchestrated the Anfield display, distributing more than 1,000 inflatables to fans attending the match. According to reporting on the tradition's revival, the organised effort represented a deliberate attempt to reclaim a cherished part of City's identity.
Speaking to a national broadcaster's radio programme, Varadi reflected on witnessing the craze return after four decades.
It was amazing, [it's] bringing a lot of fun back into the game. The game itself was a terrific game obviously but just to see the inflatable craze coming back from the 80s when I was playing at the old Maine Road, it was a joy.
Varadi joined City from West Bromwich Albion in October 1986 and made a significant impact during his spell, scoring 26 goals across 65 appearances before transferring to Sheffield Wednesday in September 1988. His prolific form and distinctive nickname became intertwined with the club's identity during a period of flux.
How did the banana tradition begin?
The origins of the craze trace back to the moment Varadi's nickname took hold among the fanbase.
Somebody started to call me Imre Banana and then, the following game, there were 10, 20, 25 bananas and then it just grew and grew and grew until every football club had an inflatable,Varadi explained. According to accounts of the tradition's development, fan Frank Newton is credited with bringing an inflatable banana to a match after the nickname caught on, sparking a movement that would define an era of City's support culture.
The phenomenon eventually spread beyond Manchester, with supporters from other clubs adopting inflatable bananas at their own grounds. What began as a localised expression of affection for one player evolved into a broader cultural moment in English football.
What does Varadi think about the tradition's legacy?
Varadi expressed pride in the lasting impact of the banana craze, viewing it as a testament to the connection between players and supporters.
I started it but it was 40 years ago and it's still going strong now, as we all saw at Anfield. I'm really proud of it. It's bringing a lot of joy to the game. It's great to see.
The striker, who now sells inflatable bananas through the club, sees the tradition as more than nostalgia. For current supporters, the banana display at Anfield represented a way to inject levity and defiance into a moment of institutional crisis, drawing strength from the club's ability to survive and recover from previous adversities.
What happens next in City's legal battle?
Manchester City has confirmed it is appealing the independent commission's guilty verdict. According to the club's statement on the appeal process, City maintains that the decision contains "clear material errors" and that it possesses evidence to support its case. The appeal will be heard privately by a new three-person independent commission, with Premier League rules stipulating that the hearing should conclude within 12 weeks of commencing, and a decision must be communicated within 30 days of the hearing's conclusion.
The club's next fixture is scheduled for 17 October 2026, when Manchester City will face Ipswich Town, providing supporters with another opportunity to demonstrate their backing during this uncertain period.
Key Facts:
- Imre Varadi earned his 'Banana' nickname during his 1986-1988 spell at Manchester City, when he scored 26 goals in 65 appearances
- The inflatable banana craze began during the 1987-88 season and eventually spread to other football clubs across England
- The supporters' group 1894 distributed over 1,000 inflatable bananas at Sunday's Liverpool match as a show of solidarity
- Manchester City has appealed the independent commission's guilty verdict on 114 financial rule breaches, claiming the decision contains material errors
- The appeal hearing must conclude within 12 weeks, with a final decision expected within 30 days of the hearing's conclusion
