Why do Manchester City fans wave inflatable bananas?

Manchester City supporters are known for their sky-blue colours, but another sight has occasionally brightened their stands over the years: large inflatable yellow bananas.

The unusual tradition returned to prominence when City fans brought the oversized fruit to Anfield for the club’s first Premier League match following a guilty verdict in a financial rules case. Amid hostile chants and criticism from Liverpool supporters, the inflatable bananas offered a playful response from the travelling fans.

Although the sight might seem bizarre to anyone unfamiliar with English football culture, the tradition has roots stretching back to the late 1980s.

How the inflatable banana tradition began

Manchester City's banana tradition dates to the 1987–88 season, when the club was competing in the English second tier following relegation from the old First Division.

According to the commonly told story, one City supporter brought a large inflatable banana to Maine Road in an attempt to lighten the mood during a difficult period for the club.

At the time, City had a popular striker named Imre Varadi, who had acquired the affectionate terrace nickname “Imre Banana”. The connection between the player and the unusual prop helped the idea catch on among supporters.

What began as a humorous gesture gradually became a recognisable part of City's fan culture, with inflatable bananas appearing in the stands during the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s.

The tradition was never a constant feature at every match, but it became one of the club's more distinctive expressions of supporter identity.

Why did the bananas disappear?

The inflatable bananas became less common as Manchester City moved into a new era. The club left Maine Road for the City of Manchester Stadium, now known as the Etihad Stadium, in 2003. The subsequent Abu Dhabi-backed takeover in 2008 also marked the beginning of a major transformation in City's fortunes.

As the club developed into a regular contender for major honours, the old banana tradition gradually faded from the spotlight.

However, it never completely disappeared from the memories of supporters. Its return demonstrated how football fans can revive older customs when a moment calls for humour, solidarity or a show of defiance.

Why did Manchester City fans bring them to Anfield?

The bananas reappeared prominently when City travelled to Liverpool amid heightened scrutiny surrounding the club's financial rules case.

Liverpool supporters made their feelings known through boos, chants and banners, while sections of the travelling City support responded by raising inflatable bananas.

The gesture drew on a tradition associated with an earlier, less successful period in City's history. Rather than responding only with confrontation, supporters used a familiar symbol of their club's past to inject humour into a hostile atmosphere.

City went on to win the match 3-0, giving the travelling fans another reason to celebrate. The episode also brought the tradition to the attention of a wider audience, many of whom had never encountered the inflatable bananas before.

What did Enzo Maresca say about the tradition?

Ahead of City's Premier League match against Ipswich Town, manager Enzo Maresca welcomed the prospect of seeing the bananas return to the stands.

“It's very nice. I didn't know the history behind the banana, but I hope tomorrow I can see many bananas in the stadium,” Maresca said.

He added that the tradition created “a nice environment for the fans and for everyone that is in the stadium”.

Maresca's comments reflected the lighthearted nature of the custom. Although the bananas had resurfaced amid a serious controversy surrounding the club, their original purpose was to bring humour and personality to matchday.

More than just an inflatable fruit

Manchester City's inflatable bananas are a reminder that football culture extends beyond trophies, transfers and results.

The tradition emerged during a difficult period in the club's history and became associated with a player, a stadium and a generation of supporters. Its occasional revival connects modern City fans with an earlier chapter of the club's story.

For younger supporters, the bananas may be an amusing novelty. For older fans, they represent a familiar piece of terrace culture that has survived changes in stadiums, ownership and sporting fortunes.

And while the sight of hundreds of inflatable bananas might seem unusual to outsiders, their meaning is straightforward: a little humour, a nod to history and a way for Manchester City supporters to express themselves when the pressure is on.

SportsLigue