I posted on this Friday, thought I'd post it again.
United remove anti-City banner
Daniel Taylor The Guardian, Wednesday 6 February 2008
Manchester United's extensive efforts to make sure the 50th-anniversary commemorations of the Munich air disaster pass smoothly included some emergency work at Old Trafford yesterday and the removal of a banner that pokes fun at Manchester City's lack of silverware.
The banner, which hangs permanently from the old Stretford End and has transferable numbers, says "32 Years", the period since City last won a trophy. It will be modified to "33" at the start of 2009 but several United supporters contacted the club to say
it might incite the 3,000 away fans on Sunday.
The overriding concern of officials at Old Trafford is that City's supporters should not disrupt the minute's silence and as a gesture of goodwill United decided to remove the banner until the FA Cup tie against Arsenal on February 16. "The fans who have contacted us don't think this banner is appropriate," said a spokesman. "They have asked us to replace it
for this one match and the club is happy to help."
There is also unease at United about the minute's silence before England's game against Switzerland tonight. Sir Alex Ferguson has voiced concern that there might be a "mixed reaction" and Wayne Rooney has appealed for the crowd to behave in the correct manner: "The important thing is paying our respects and making sure those who died are honoured in the right way."
A remembrance service will be held at Old Trafford today, and United and City will wear 50s-style kits, devoid of sponsors' logos, on Sunday. There will be a mascot to represent each of the 23 people who died, and the surnames will be on the back of their shirts. Ferguson will lay a commemorative wreath, as will the City manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson.
The clubs have been trying to promote a message of unity and the away end will be decorated with posters of Frank Swift, the former City goalkeeper who was among those who died in Munich.
Benjani Mwaruwari will make his debut for Manchester City after completing his protracted transfer from Portsmouth yesterday, five days after the official transfer deadline elapsed. The Zimbabwean will cost City an initial £3.87m, half the amount first proposed, and they will see that as a victory in what had become a complex and fractious dispute with Portsmouth. City will make substantial additional payments depending on games played.
City succeeded in their demand that Benjani, 29, underwent a full medical, which had been impossible when he turned up at the training ground 50 minutes before the transfer deadline last Thursday. He is likely to replace Daniel Sturridge at Old Trafford.
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/feb/06/newsstory.manchesterunited" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008 ... sterunited</a>
Yes. No sponsors. NO sponsors (AIG) on the mascots shirts. NO sponsor (AIG) being flashed around the world on the hoardings. Must be respectful by not chewing gum during the minutes silence.
