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Former Manchester United star Ji Sung-Park wants fans to stop singing ‘dog meat’ chant

"If I am being honest, I should probably speak out loud more this time," he told the official UTD podcast.

The Manc The Manc - 4th October 2021

Former Manchester United player Ji-Sung Park has asked the club’s supporters to stop singing a song about him that contains a negative racial stereotype about Korean people.

Although Park does not believe the fans mean to cause offence with the chant, which contains a reference to Koreans eating dog meat, he believes it makes Korean players feel uncomfortable.

The song, which references South Koreans eating dog-meat, was regularly heard at Old Trafford and earlier this season was used when Wolves unveiled Hwang Hee-chan ahead of their game with the Red Devils.

Park is the most successful footballer in the history of Asian football, becoming a fan favourite at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson between 2005 and 2012.

Transfer Story: Park Ji-sung joins Manchester United - Newsdir3

“If I am being honest, I should probably speak out loud more this time,” he told the official UTD podcast.

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“In that time (when I was a player at United), 15 years ago, everything changed from Holland to England, I had to adapt and start from zero. So when I heard that song at that time, I felt very proud first because they created a song for me, which is good for a player.

“But when I heard about the lyric – about eating dog meat – it was very uncomfortable for me.

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“I was young, I didn’t know the culture here, so it was probably one of the things I had to accept. I never thought the fans created the songs with bad meanings. They always make a song to give some energy to the players. That’s my thought. That’s why I accepted it.

Park Ji-sung urges Man Utd fans to stop singing offensive song in his honour | The Independent

“But time has changed, and it is 15 years later. Probably, last summer, listening to one of the Korean players who joined Wolves, and that time the United fans sang my song, I felt I needed to do something.

“Even in Korea it changed a lot. It is true that, historically, people have been eating dog meat. But these days, particularly the young generation, they hate it. It was there before but these days you really can’t find it. So the culture is changing.

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“So I’m really sorry for him to hear that. I know the United fans didn’t mean any offence to him, but I have to educate the fans to stop that word, which these days is a racial insult to the Korean people. I have to ask the fans to stop singing that word because it’s not cheering up someone anymore, it’s going to be more discomfort when they hear that song.”

Park scored 27 goals in more than 200 appearances for Manchester United between 2005 and 2012. He was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson from PSV Eindhoven and went on to play for QPR.

Sport

Manchester United scrapped plans to wear LGBTQ+ jackets after Noussair Mazraoui refused

Danny Jones Danny Jones Mazraoui wouldn't wear United LGBTQ+ jacket due to religion

Manchester United are under the spotlight once again after they reportedly scrapped their plans to wear LGBTQ+ jackets prior to their game against Everton this past weekend after defender Noussair Mazraoui said he wasn’t prepared to wear them.

The club had initially planned to walk out of the tunnel wearing a special Adidas design in support of LGBTQ+ fans, but the Mazraoui said he wouldn’t wear the jacket due to his religion.

Born in Morrocco and into the Muslim faith – which does not approve of homosexuality and various other aspects within the queer community – the 27-year-old obviously didn’t feel comfortable taking part on religious grounds.

As a result, as per The Athletic, the rest of the team voted against taking part in the observance altogether, walking out instead in their usual pre-match attire.

According to writer Adam Crafton, the U-turn was made just hours before kick-off, with the squad deciding that “no players would wear the tracksuit so that Mazraoui would not be the only one seen publicly refusing to wear it.”

Man United have worn colourful pre-match jerseys, armbands and more on various occasions in the past as part of the Premier League’s ongoing Rainbow Laces campaign, with the squad donning a previous version of the special LGBTQ Adidas jackets just last season before Mazraroui signed for the club.

However, it now looks as though this specific show of support could be sidelined indefinitely given Mazraroui’s place in the team, having emerged not only as a starter but one of the most popular and in-form players, dubbed by many as one of their shrewdest signings in years.

Meanwhile, responding to the reports, the club told the outlet: “Manchester United welcomes fans from all backgrounds, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, and we are strongly committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion.

“We demonstrate these principles through a range of activities, including support for our Rainbow Devils supporters’ club, and campaigns to celebrate our LGBTQ+ fans and combat all forms of discrimination. Players are entitled to hold their own individual opinions, particularly in relation to their faith, and these may sometimes differ from the club’s position.”

However, the show of solidarity from the players with their team-mate in this instance and the choice not to take part has come under fire from an understandably passionate section of fans, especially given Greater Manchester’s long-standing LGBTQ ambassadorship and annual Pride celebrations.

Naturally, not everyone is in agreeance. Football content presenter and producer Bruno Quinney wrote: “One thing for Mazraoui to refuse but even worse for the whole team to follow. Even from a PR perspective alone, this is dreadful.

On the other hand, another account said in response to United’s statement: “Was never this deep, United are so inclusive and work hard for the LGBTQ+ community and provide a safe place for them (rightly so), one person’s symbolism should not scatter the hard work in place.”

Although United have obviously insisted they will continue to support the likes of the Rainbow Devils Supporters’ Club – MUFC’s official LGBTQ+ trust which proudly flies its banner at Old Trafford week in and week out – the decision has of course come as a difficult one for many to accept.

Sharing an official response on Wednesday, the group wrote: “We respect the right of this player to have his own views, whilst also feeling disappointed that he put the rest of the squad into a position where they felt that they couldn’t wear their jackets. We also worry what kind of negative effect this incident might have on any player at the club who may be struggling with their sexuality.

“Rainbow Devils will continue to work with Manchester United to support inclusivity, through the One Love initiative and others, as we all continue our work to ensure all LGBTQ+ people feel safe and welcome at Old Trafford, both on and off the pitch.”

You can read their full statement down below:

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Featured Images — Nawfel Ajari (via WikiCommons)/ Manchester United (via YouTube)/Adidas

Sport

Tributes pour in for well-known Manchester United supporter and fancam favourite Abdullah Ghaleiw

Danny Jones Danny Jones Abdullah Ghaleiw Full Time Devils death tributes

Tributes are pouring in online for well-known Manchester United supporter, Abdullah Ghaleiw, who has sadly passed away at the age of just 26.

Aside from being a familiar face among the Old Trafford crowd, Ghaleiw was an online content creator, commentator and hugely popular contributor on the Man United YouTube fan channel, Full Time Devils (FTD), which rebranded back in 2020.

More commonly referred to as just Abdul, both among those on the channel and by the millions who watched him over the years, he was a regular on their post-match fancams, as well as other shows and livestreams on matchdays and beyond.

With other Reds, long-time viewers and supporters from all over the country learning of the news, social media has been awash with people paying their respects to the die-hard footy fan, as well as a much-loved friend and colleague.

Born in Libya but raised and schooled here in Manchester, he was a matchgoing United fan for many seasons. Having gone from fancam favourite to several years working in various roles on the channel, he was most recently a producer for JD Sports. His cause of death has not been shared publicly.

Stretford Paddock (formerly FTD and now a fan-owned football club too), who Abdullah worked alongside for many years and was a regular face on the channel under their old moniker, told The Manc: “Abdullah was one of the most passionate, knowledgeable and likeable lads you could wish to meet.

“He was an extremely popular presenter on the channel thanks to his ability to not only explain tactics in an entertaining and understandable way, but also because of his great sense of humour and infectious laugh.

“We’ve shared so many moments with him but his reaction in Paris from our win over PSG remains one of our favourites. We’ll always miss Abdullah and the channel will be a much sadder place without him.”

Speaking in an emotional livestream on Monday after attending his funeral, the company’s founder Stephen Howson went on to tell viewers: “I don’t know what to say – we’ve lost a mate […] The good news is we have so much content [of him] to go back and watch […] He will be missed.”

BBC Radio Manchester presenter, Gaz Drinkwater – who spent a formative period of his career working and talking football with Abdul during his tenure at Full Time Devils – is one of several notable names in and around football journalism to have paid tribute to a peer admired by many.

Fellow United content creator and Stretford Paddock presenter Adam McKola shared a parting message on his Instagram, writing: “We’ve lost a real one, a great friend and a true bro. Been reading through all the posts and tweets about how much you’ve done for people, the impact you had on their lives and careers, how much we loved you, you will be so, so missed bro.

“We didn’t have you around us because you were good at your job, and believe me you were one of the best, we had you around because you were such a clean hearted, genuine brother. I’ll miss you man. Can still hear your laugh ringing in my head – hope I don’t forget it.

“My love goes out to your family, friends and close ones. Rest in perfect peace, Abdullah – I love you, bro.” His is just one of many others detailing how Ghaleiw touched their lives, from passing on spare tickets to mentoring others looking to get into his line of work.

To this day, his face can be found all over the channel and, just as countless fans wrote in the live chat during Howson’s remembrance livestream, many of FTD/Stretford Paddock‘s most iconic moments had ‘Abdul’ at the heart of them.

Our thoughts go out to all those in the Stretford Paddock family, as well as his friends, family and Reds everywhere. Rest in peace.

Read more:

Featured Images — Stretford Paddock (screenshot via YouTube)

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