A Manchester United supporter chant about Romelu Lukaku has been deemed offensive and racist by Kick It Out, a group that combats discrimination in football.
“Kick It Out is aware of footage of alleged racist chanting by supporters of Manchester United that emerged on Wednesday evening (13 September),” a Kick It Out spokesman said.
“The lyrics used in the chant are offensive and discriminatory. Racist stereotypes are never acceptable in football or wider society, irrespective of any intention to show support for a player. We have contacted Manchester United regarding the issue and will be working closely with them and The FA to ensure that it is addressed swiftly.”
“If we receive any reports relating to the discriminatory chant, those will be passed on to the governing body and the perpetrators can expect to face punishment.”
The chant, which is intended to praise Lukaku, is sung to the tune of “Made of Stone,” by Manchester band the Stone Roses, and it refers to the size of Lukaku’s penis. The chant is only sung by a very small number of MUFC supporters, but some of those fans were recorded singing it during United’s UEFA Champions Champions League group stage win over Basel last Tuesday.
In response to the action taken by Kick It Out, United have issued their own club statement reading: “We are seeking advice from the relevant bodies. Manchester United has a zero tolerance towards all forms of discrimination.”
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