Sport

Manchester United team up with Stormzy for Merky FC to address racial inequality in football

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 3rd November 2022

Manchester United have teamed up with Merky FC, the new campaign set up by rapper Stormzy to improve diversity in football.

Announced on Wednesday 3 November, Stormzy‘s initiative has partnered with 10 other brands including United and lead sponsor Adidas to address racial inequality in the football industry.

The overarching goal of Merky FC is to provide more opportunities both on and off the pitch to those of Black heritage as well as young people of colour across the UK.

The multi-year programme is committed to enhancing and protecting diverse representation throughout football by providing a multitude of work placements commencing in early 2023.

According to statistics from Adidas, while Black players make up 43% of the on-pitch presence, just 6.7% of senior roles are taken by professionals who identify as Black or Mixed heritage.

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Speaking on Sky Sports News following the announcement, the 29-year-old musician, entrepreneur and philanthropist — awarded an honorary degree from the University of Exeter earlier this year — explained the idea behind the campaign and what the various partnerships will deliver.

Other partners include the likes of Fulham FC, LADbible, sports publisher GOAL and Sky Sports themselves, all of which are committed to helping provide funding, work placements and overall support as part of the inclusivity-driven scheme.

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As for the United, the club is one of several allowing people aged between 16 and 25 to apply for the nationwide programme from 4 November, pledging roles within their Alliances & Partnerships, Ticketing, Technology and Retail & Merchandising departments.

Following the unveiling, a Merky FC launch event was streamed on the organisation’s YouTube channel, featuring significant figures from across the footballing industry such as Ian Wright, Jeanette Kwakye, Leon Mann MBE, Jaydee Dyer, Henry Frimpong and many more.

Together, the team of athletes, sports personalities, broadcasters and industry figures discussed the disparities within football careers and how movements like this can help secure greater recognition of Black talent in all facets of the game.

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You can watch the full live stream to hear Stormzy and co. talk about the campaign in more detail down below:

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Featured Image — Stormzy/Merky FC (via Twitter)

Sport

Patrice Evra details ‘FBI’ grilling from Sir Alex Ferguson that made him reject Liverpool and choose United

Danny Jones Danny Jones Patrice Evra Sir Alex Ferguson first meeting join United reject Liverpool

Ex-Manchester United man Patrice Evra has revealed the intense meeting he had with Sir Alex Ferguson that convinced him to join Manchester United and, as it turns out, reject Liverpool.

The former French fullback recently appeared on fellow teammate Rio Ferdinand‘s FIVE podcast to discuss all things football, United and plenty more, so it was no surprise that talk eventually turned to Sir Alex Ferguson and the impact he had on his career.

Rolling back the years to 2006 when Evra first joined United, the 41-year-old shone some light on the rather full-on first meeting he had with Sir Alex and then chief executive David Gill in Paris, which involved lots of translation and the usual no-nonsense approach from his soon-to-be manager.

As he remembers it, the conversation was “like an interview with the FBI”.

We’re sure Evra isn’t the only one Sir Alex had this effect on.

Evra detailed how he, Sir Alex, Gill and his agent all met in a special room at Charles de Gaulle Airport and the Scots’ first questions were straight to the point: “Do you drink?… Do you like to go out?; Are you ready to not lose a game? Are you ready to not even draw one game?” etc.

He went on to explain that from the moment he shook Sir Alex’s hand, he felt as though if he let the team and him down, in particular, “this man would kill me—but it was really impressive.” Crazy to think the kind of impact he could have in such a short space of time.

To make the story even more high-stakes, Patrice also revealed that before he signed on the dotted line for United, he could have very well joined their rivals further down the River Mersey.

Yes, Patrice said that “before United came, [me and] my agent, we had Liverpool and Inter Milan”, adding that his agent was so excited to get the call from Old Trafford.

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He insisted that the move was always leaning in United’s favour as he had grown up watching club legend Eric Cantona, who had a “big influence” on his decision.

However, the move materialised mainly down to SAF himself: “When I met Ferguson, I felt like something special — you feel like his aura. If you do well for this man you feel, you are going to win and achieve lot of things”.

Cut to a few years later and he was right, he won pretty much everything there is to win a club level barring the FA Cup. Go figure.

You can watch the full interview, including Patrice Evra’s story of the time he chose to confront Sir Alex Ferguson down below:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image — FIVE (via YouTube)/Manchester United/Patrice Evra (via IG)

Sport

Manchester United fans are loving Marcel Sabitzer’s ‘cold AF’ response to FA Cup drama

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester United fans are absolutely loving Marcel Sabitzer‘s “cold AF” response to a post-match interview question yesterday.

Following what can only be described as a dramatic 90-minutes for the Red Devils against Fulham yesterday in the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup, the Austrian midfielder was asked by reporters to give his take on the match – which saw three straight red cards given and a brawl break out, all before he netted his first goal for the club.

The 29-year-old – who was signed on a loan from Bayern Munich until the end of the 22/23 season – was asked by ITV Football’s Gabriel Clarke in his post-match interview whether or not United won the game, or rather if it was a case of Fulham losing it.

And his “straight-talking” response to the question has seen supporters calling for him be signed on a permanent deal.

It all came after a late second-half meltdown at Old Trafford, where Fulham winger Willian was first sent off for a handball on the goal-line in the 72nd minute, before Fulham goal-scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic then started squaring-up to the referee, and several other players subsequently joined in leading to an on-pitch commotion.

Mitrovic was also shown a straight red card shortly after, as was Fulham manager Marco Silva for dissent.

Sabitzer then scored his first goal in a United shirt quickly after in the 77th minute.

After speaking on the game as a whole, when the reporter asked whether it was United that won or Fulham who lost, the midfielder shrugged his shoulders and said with a completely straight face: “We won it. Why not?

“We scored three, they scored one. We concentrated and were focused.

“I think we deserved the win.

“We had some chances that we missed. Second half, we were 1-0 down, but, as I said, we came back and that’s the important thing.”

Marcel Sabitzer scored his first goal in a United shirt during yesterday’s dramatic FA Cup clash / Credit: Manchester United (via Facebook)

The Austrian international’s answer to the reporter’s question has seen United supporters heap praise on him, taking to social media after the match to urge the club to sign him on a permanent deal after his loan ends at the close of the current season.

“The way he said “we won it”. Absolutely love this guy,” one fan said on Twitter.

“Sign him for this interview alone,” another United fan said on Twitter, while a third added: “Cold AF. Love it,” and a fourth commented: “Love how Sabitzer handled this interview despite the usual moronic questions.”

Another fan added on Twitter in response: “Sabitzer interview brilliant. For the goal and interview alone he has to be a red next season.”

Sabitzer also spoke to Manchester United’s official MUTV channel after the match and described his first goal for the club as “massive” for him.

“I was overwhelmed,” he admitted.

“Scoring the first at Old Trafford in front of these amazing fans. And that important one, at 2-1 it was a massive one. I am very happy at the moment. I couldn’t reach it with the right foot, so I was just trying to hit it with the left foot and it worked out.”

“It’s massive win,” he continued. “We wanted to go back to Wembley, we did it. 1-0 down was tough, but we come back and it was a good one.”

With the prospect of another trophy on the horizon as United head to Wembley for the second time this season in the FA Cup Semi Final, Sabitzer said he’s prepared for another clash in the capital.

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“As I said, before the game we were very focused to go back to Wembley and we did it,” he declared, “We know we are going to face a tough opponent, strong opponent. But we will prepare well for it and we will be ready to go to the final.

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“We will go there and win it and bring it on.”

Featured Image – ITV Football

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