Man City fans heard singing vile Bobby Charlton chant as club issues statement
Manchester City have released a statement condemning a “small number of individuals” who chanted about the death of Sir Bobby Charlton.
Charlton sadly passed away on Saturday – with the news of his passing announced at half-time during City’s Premier League clash against Brighton. The former Manchester United star formed part of Matt Busby's successful Red Devils side of the 1960s, helping the club win three first division titles as well as the European Cup in 1968. He was one of the few players to survive the horrific Munich air disaster in 1958 which claimed the lives of 23 people.
Former forward Charlton was a crucial cog in England's World Cup-winning side of 1966. His efforts that year won him the Ballon d'Or award for the world's greatest player, before finishing second in the same competition in 1967 and 1968.
However, small groups of fans from United's Manchester rivals City were heard singing offensive chants about Charlton during the afternoon prompting complaints from fellow Blues. A video circulating on social media showed one such chant being sung on an Etihad Stadium concourse.
A statement from Man City, released on Sunday afternoon, reads: "Manchester City FC are extremely disappointed to have learned of reports of offensive chanting from a small number of individuals about Sir Bobby Charlton in some of the concourses of Etihad Stadium during half-time of yesterday’s Premier League fixture against Brighton and Hove Albion.
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"The club condemns these chants in the strongest terms and apologises unreservedly to the family and friends of Sir Bobby, and to all those at Manchester United. On this day of all days, when the stadium stood to pay tribute to our own legend in Francis Lee, Manchester City supporters should understand and appreciate as keenly as anyone the need for respect in our game.
"Our security team are studying CCTV footage of the concourse areas. We are thankful to those who have already come forward to report this matter, and we continue to appeal for any information that can help us identify the individuals involved so that we can take the appropriate action to issue banning orders.
Sir Bobby Charlton has passed away at the age of 86 (Getty Images)"Fans who see or hear abusive behaviour are encouraged to text 0770 0151 894 to make our dedicated security team aware of what they have witnessed."
Ahead of City's home clash against the Seagulls, the club and its fanbase paid tribute to their legendary former player Francis Lee, who passed away on 2 October, aged 79.
City travel to Old Trafford next weekend for the first Manchester derby of the campaign and their boss Pep Guardiola has said that the club will play their part in further tributes to a true football legend: "Next week when we go there, to Old Trafford, the first time, we will be present to make a tribute."
Guardiola added: "I love this country for many things, but one of the things is how they take care of legends. They are part of the club, they travel and represent."
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