- Oct 16, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
Manchester City supporters brought hundreds of inflatable bananas to Sunday's match at Liverpool, reviving a decades-old custom amid a hostile reception for the club.
The Anfield crowd greeted City with accusatory banners, boos and chanting over the club's serious financial rules breaches, which have drawn widespread criticism and potential relegation threats. City fans used the bananas as a counter-protest while the club faces being lambasted as "cheats."
The inflatable tradition dates to the 1987-88 season, when a supporter first brought one to Maine Road to lighten the mood after City dropped to the second tier. The practice caught on in the 1980s and '90s, tied partly to striker Imre Varadi, whose nickname was "Imre Banana." It faded after stadium changes and the mid-2000s takeover.
Manager Enzo Maresca said he was unaware of the history. "I hope tomorrow I can see many bananas in the stadium," he remarked, adding that he thinks it creates a nice environment. City next faces Ipswich Town in the Premier League.
Source: ESPN - Sat Oct 17, 9:52 AM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).