Source: Daily_Mail
Man City legend Colin Bell calls for an end to 'degrading' Munich air crash chants
It is only three years ago that Manchester's two football clubs were thrown together by the fixture computer for a derby match perhaps like no other. [LNB] Played at Old Trafford four days after the 50th anniversary of the Munich disaster, the occasion was memorable not because Sven Goran Eriksson's City team won 2-1 but for the manner in which a minute's silence to commemorate the 23 victims of the tragedy was impeccably observed by both sets of supporters.[LNB] 'Degrading': Chants were heard during Man City's 1-0 win over Blackburn (above)[LNB] At the time, this newspaper expressed hope that a rare display of unity in Manchester would set the tone for a better future.[LNB] 'Surely football rivalries can be fierce, deep and bitter without being indecent as well,' we asked. [LNB] Sadly, it appears that memories are short. Old habits die far too hard. In the away end as City beat Blackburn at Ewood Park on Monday night, the 'Munich' songs were back.[LNB]'Who put the ball in the Munichs' net?' sang some, in reference to Yaya Toure's winning goal against United in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley recently.[LNB] A new slant on a depressingly old theme, it reflected badly on City and that is unfortunate. This is a modern-thinking club who have done all they can to stop a minority of their supporters stooping so low. Letters from the club captain, appeals in the programme and messages from various managers - City have tried it all in the past.[LNB] The problem with modern thinking, though, is that it tends to be lost on the ignorant. Hence, a small section of City followers quickly became indignant as the 'Munich' debate began on Twitter and internet fans' forums late on Monday night.[LNB] Why, a minority asked, should the media highlight songs referring to Munich when other sets of supporters - from clubs like United, Leeds and Liverpool - have their own lengthy crime sheets for distasteful singing?[LNB] A city united: Reds and Blues stand together in 2008 to mark 50 yearssince the Munich air disaster[LNB] Other sets of supporters are indeed as guilty. Certainly, supporters of United can not seek the moral high ground. But there is no moral high ground here.[LNB] It is simply not good enough to justify one's own behaviour by pointing out that other people are at it too.[LNB] But, just so that we are in no doubt, let's be clear. It is not OK to chant about stadium disasters and plane crashes that killed people. Nor is it OK to call Arsene Wenger a paedophile - as United fans routinely do - when he is not, nor ridicule a player because he is black.[LNB] To most football fans, all this is obvious. The majority of City supporters find the Munich songs abhorrent and some tried to quell the chanting when it started at Blackburn.[LNB] City legend Colin Bell appealed to those giving the club a bad name yesterday.[LNB] The 65-year-old told the Manchester Evening News: 'Football is a sport at the end of the day and they are chanting about people's lives. These chants are degrading the club.'[LNB] City supporters are certainly no worse than any other group. Munich gestures, for example, have been seen at Anfield, Elland Road and even Bolton's Reebok Stadium.[LNB]Recently, City's away following was praised by Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish for the way a minute's silence for the victims of the Hillsborough disaster was observed before a game between the teams.[LNB] Decency, though, cannot be turned on and off like a tap.[LNB] Tragic: The wreckage of the British European Airways plane which crashed in Munich[LNB] It is unfortunate for the vast majority of City fans that this issue should surface again in a week that began with a moving drama about the Munich disaster and at a time when talk should be about them winning a place in a major cup final for the first time since 1981.[LNB] Nevertheless, in some quarters logic has become deeply skewed. [LNB] On Twitter on Monday, for example, it was suggested to me by more than one person that City's latest song was acceptable because it was not about the Munich disaster, it merely referred to United fans as 'Munichs'.[LNB] This, apparently, is an accepted term of reference for United followers in Manchester these days. It is, I was told, just like calling City fans 'Bitters' (Bitter Blues).[LNB] Another correspondent suggested it was acceptable because most people singing it 'don't really know what it means'. Munich is, apparently, 'just a word'.[LNB] One wonders what families of Munich victims would make of these peculiar and witless arguments. What would relatives of Frank Swift - the former City goalkeeper who lost his life at Munich while working as a journalist - think of this twisted strain of logic? [LNB] The answers, of course, are obvious. 'Munich', 'Hillsborough', 'Heysel' are not just words. Just like 'n****r' and 'paedophile' and 'P**i' are not just words either. [LNB] Used in the wrong way they are weapons capable of taking our game hurtling back towards the dark ages. Anyone who does not understand this really should go back to school.[LNB] At City this week, the Munich issue is not being ignored. In all likelihood, there will be a fresh initiative soon. [LNB] United have tried to stamp out the Wenger songs in the past, too, and today UEFA will consider sanction against Rangers for alleged discriminatory chanting during a Europa League tie against PSV Eindhoven last month. As admirable as this is, only self-policing and common sense will work in the end. [LNB] Until the culprits are shushed, shunned and shamed by those around them they will continue to embarrass us all. [LNB] No thanks! Real set to snub ?12m offer to buy loan star Adebayor from City Now watch Dzeko go! McClaren backs Man City striker to rediscover formAll the latest Man City news, features and opinionAll the latest Man United news, features and opinion Explore more:People: Frank Swift, Kenny Dalglish, Sven Goran Eriksson Places: Munich, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester
