Community Shield scandal explained as Man City and Man Utd prepare for battle at Wembley

The Community Shield is on the line as Man City and Man Utd prepare to do battle at Wembley today

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Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 10/08/2024

- 08:51

The competition used to be known as the 'Charity Shield' - but the name was changed after the FA had failed to meet its legal obligations

As Manchester City and Manchester United prepare to lock horns in the Community Shield today, it's time to wind the clock back.

Chances are, at least one person you know still refers to the tournament as the 'Charity Shield'. After all, for many years, that was it's name.


However, that all changed back in 2002.

That year, the Charity Commission uncovered that the Football Association had failed to meet its legal obligations under charity law.

Community Shield

The Community Shield is on the line as Man City and Man Utd prepare to do battle at Wembley today

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The FA were also accused of failing to specify how much money from ticket sales actually went to charity.

And they were also criticised for delaying payments to the nominated charities in question, too.

As a result of the findings, the competition was renamed the Community Shield.

Arsenal were the first team to win the trophy with its new name, with the Gunners beating Liverpool 1-0 at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff.

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Gilberto Silva netted the only goal of the game that day, though Arsenal would miss out on Premier League glory to Manchester United the following year.

United have won the Community Shield more times than any other club, with 21 triumphs to their name.

They will be hoping to make it No 22 today, with their last victory in the competition coming back in 2016.

United beat Leicester 2-1 on that occasion courtesy of goals from Jesse Lingard and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

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As for City, they're appearing in the Community Shield for the sixth time in seven years.

They lost on penalties to Arsenal last year, though would proceed to win the Premier League for the fourth time in a row.

United and City contested the FA Cup final at Wembley back in May.

And it was the Red Devils who won the trophy, with goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo propelling them to a 2-1 win.

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What Erik ten Hag said in press conference

Man Utd Erik ten Hag

Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag is adamant his side can beat anyone ahead of their Community Shield battle with Man City

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Speaking before the match at a press conference on Friday, United boss Erik ten Hag insisted his side are capable of beating anybody - despite their poor form last season.

"Well, we will again, we will challenge for the Carabao Cup and we will challenge for the FA Cup as well," he said.

"And so that shows we are competitive and it shows that we can beat any opponent. That is what we proved in the last two seasons.

"It doesn't matter how we faced all of them in the FA Cup and we beat Liverpool, we beat Man City. But our challenge is to bring consistency in and also I say this with all the respect against lower-class teams, I don't think there are lower-class teams in the Premier League.

"[Everyone] has to win the points and I think other teams are ahead of us in that prospect and therefore we have to catch up."

What Pep Guardiola said in press conference

Man City Pep Guardiola

Man City boss Pep Guardiola says his team won't be held to ransom by rivals as he prepares for Man Utd Community Shield clash

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As for City boss Pep Guardiola, the Spaniard has revealed the club won't be held to ransom by rivals as they hunt a new signing to replace Julian Alvarez, who is on his way to Atletico Madrid.

“We will see but we would not want to spend a lot of money on players who would not play many games,” he said. “If we need someone, it has to be the right price.”

He continued: “Maybe there are guys who think they can compete with [Erling] Haaland and will come.

“We will see at the end of the market if a club needs to sell more than they do now.”

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