RACE STORM
United’s derby win is overshadowed by shameful abuse
MANCHESTER UNITED’S shock victory in the Etihad derby last night was marred after their players were subjected to racist abuse.
United stunned their derby rivals but it was overshadowed when a Manchester City fan was caught on camera appearing to make monkey gestures towards Fred and Jesse Lingard.
Brazilian midfielder Fred was also hit by missiles thrown from the City fans in the incident as he went to take a corner in the 67th minute.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who had spoken about the racism controversy in Italy involving United defender Chris
Smalling and his former teammate Romelu Lukaku in the build-up to this game, condemned the fan.
‘I’ve seen it on the video,’ said Solskjaer. ‘It was Jesse and Fred and the fella must be ashamed of himself. It’s unacceptable and I hope he will not be watching any football any more.
‘We keep talking about it every bloody week but he has been caught on camera. He should never be let in a football ground again. It doesn’t stop unless it
will have consequences. Fred and Jesse were taking a corner and I’ve seen the video and heard from the boys. It affected both him and Jesse, you’ll see the video if you want to, but sometimes you feel sorry for these people, I’m sure they will feel sorry for them.
‘Why don’t we educate him? It’s not City’s fault, it’s his and he should be educated. That’s my opinion anyway. It’s nothing to do with Manchester City as a football club.’
It is understood that more than one United player said racist abuse had been directed at them. While City midfielder Fernandinho tried to defuse the situation in the same corner of the pitch where United’s Rio Ferdinand was cut by the left eye in the Etihad derby in December 2012, Scott McTominay led United’s protestations.
United officials alerted City stewards to the video of the fan circulating on social media and the matter was passed to the CCTV control centre at the Etihad. City issued a statement promising to hand a lifetime ban to anyone found guilty of racist abuse and were last night said to be close to identifying the individual on the video. It read: ‘Manchester City FC are aware of a video circulating on social media which appears to show a supporter making racial gestures during the second half of the match against Manchester United this evening.
‘Officials from the club are working with Greater Manchester Police in order to help them identify any individuals concerned and assist with their enquiries.
‘The club are also working with GMP regarding an instance of objects being thrown onto the field of play.
‘The club operates a zero tolerance policy regarding discrimination of any kind and anyone found guilty of racial abuse will be banned from the club for life.’
City manager Pep Guardiola also called on his club and the police to deal with the culprit.
‘I support the statement the club has done,’ said Guardiola. ‘Hopefully they are going to solve it. I’m pretty sure the club and the police will take the right decision so it doesn’t happen again. It’s a battle every day. It happens in many places and hopefully it can’t happen again.’
Anti-racism body Kick It Out also weighed into the controversy last night, tweeting: ‘We will be contacting both clubs to offer our support and hope swift action is taken to identify the offenders.’