Manchester City has apologised after “vile” and offensive chants mocking the death of England and Manchester United legend, Sir Bobby Charlton, were heard being sung by some of their fans during their Premier League home game on Saturday.
Captured in since-deleted clips on social media, a “small number” of Blues were heard chanting “Bobby’s in a box” during the 2-1 win against Brighton — the same fixture in which they paid tribute to a former international and club legend of their own, Franny Lee, who died earlier this month.
Speaking to The Times, a club source called those involved “idiots who represent neither our club nor our fans”, with City also issuing an appeal urging their own supporters to come forward with information.
🚨 Manchester City have apologized to Manchester United and the family of Sir Bobby Charlton after some of their supporters were filmed celebrating his death.
A City source branded those who took part in the chants "idiots who represent neither our club nor our fans" and called… pic.twitter.com/iW9EFUHDxp
City apologise and condemn the Sir Bobby Charlton chants from their home fans.
“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”, the statement read.
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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.
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“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. 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.”
The Premier League similarly expressed their upset at the reports, stating they were “appalled” by the behaviour and insisted that they will support Man City in whatever action they deem appropriate.
Meanwhile, Man United players, staff and fans were welcomed to Old Trafford on Sunday to pay their respects to the prolific goalscorer, World Cup winner and club hero, with thousands writing tributes in person and online, as well countless people continuing to lay flowers and scarves outside his likeness on the iconic Trinity Statue.
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In addition to yesterdays memorial, the club has confirmed they will hold a minute’s silence outside before kick-off in their next two matches as United prepare to face FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday and then City themselves in league on Sunday.
Rest in peace to one of the greatest to ever do it.
The scene outside Old Trafford this morning.
We've speaking to fans and former United players live on @BBCRadioManc for their memories of Sir Bobby Charlton.
Hear from Richie Wellens, Sammy McIlroy and Steve Bruce.
Featured Image — Manchester United/Manchester City (via Twitter)
Sport
John Stones is leaving Manchester City after a decade
Danny Jones
Manchester City defender John Stones has revealed he will be leaving after nearly a full decade in sky blue at the end of the season.
The England and Man City defender has lifted pretty much everything there is to win at club level, being part of the ‘Centurions’, Treble-winning and four-in-a-row sides.
John Stones signed for City back in August of 2016 and has gone on to be part of their greatest-ever period of success under Pep Guardiola, not to mention becoming a mainstay in the national team during that time.
Sharing a moving video on social media, announced the decision that will see him depart after the best part of 10 years this summer.
Having made nearly 300 appearances for the Cityzens, he will leave the Etihad as one of their most decorated players, with a tally of 19 major trophies, the same number of goals and nine assists during his time with the club.
That being said, depending on how the remainder of this 2025/26 campaign goes, all of those stats could improve even further.
Writing in an official statement of their own, Man City went on to say: “Armed with wonderful technique, a sublime passing range allied to a superb work rate and astute reading of the game, Stones was in many ways the very embodiment of Pep Guardiola’s City.
“Such was his natural talent and tactical flexibility that Stones’ City career later saw him often deployed in a hybrid role, which saw him move into the middle of the City engine room to great effect, not least in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final…”
He is now set to leave as a free agent this June.
John Stones will leave Manchester City in the summer, bringing an end to a memorable and hugely successful ten-year stay.
They sign off by adding that “the Club and all of our supporters will take the time to deliver a fitting tribute and farewell to a superb servant of Manchester City Football Club at the end of the season.”
Following rumours of his departure in recent weeks and months, a number of clubs across Europe are already thought to have expressed interest in a transfer for the 31-year-old.
Some of the names floating around the Yorkshire-born centre-back’s signature include AC Milan and Bayern Munich; there have even been some hints at Everton attempting to re-sign him.
Where does he rank among your favourite City stars of all-time, Blues?
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua fight FINALLY booked
Danny Jones
It seems like it’s official: Tyson Fury is finally set to fight Anthony Joshua – and it sounds like it’s happening this year.
Put it this way, it better be worth all the hype after all this time.
Arguably one of the most anticipated all-British bouts of the last few decades, the boxing match between Fury and Joshua is one that fight fans, and even those only occasionally interested in the sport, have been waiting to be booked for ages.
It got to a point where we almost started to think we’d never get to see it come to fruition whatsoever, but now promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that it’s all locked in.
As you can see, putting things in the simplest terms possible, the Matchroom Boxing boss said on social media: “Signed, sealed, delivered! AJ v Fury is on!”
This comes after a previous post, in which he wrote: “The biggest piece of business we’ve ever done, but more importantly, the one we’ve always wanted.
“Biggest year of AJ’s career coming up, the comeback is on.”
Tagging the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA) and co-founder of Zuffa Boxing, Turki Al-Sheikh, the government official looks to have recently held a major event in which he hosted several big sporting names.
It was already heavily expected that any potential clash would take place in the Middle East, and it now looks like nailed on that it will be part of the country’s annual ‘Riyadh Season’.
Although things have been relatively tight-lipped on Fury‘s side, ‘The Gypsy King’ did share a little reaction of his own online…
Still more of a teaser on his end than full verification, we hope they’re not going to lead us down the garden path on this one; boxing heads have waited long enough for this one.
The 37-year-old Manchester-born boxer returned to the ring after yet ANOTHER ‘retirement’ earlier this month, winning comfortably against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Meanwhile, Joshua, now 36, will be making his own comeback of sorts against Kristian Prenga on July 25 – this will also be taking place in Riyadh.
Danny Jones -
23rd October 2023 
