A gang of Manchester United supporters has come under fire for chanting something homophobic about Michael Shields, a supporter of Liverpool.
Video from Copenhagen, where the Red Devils play in the Champions League tonight (November 8), was posted on social media by Daily Star Sport. It showed a bar full with the away team’s supporters while Ring of Fire was playing in the background.
They were heard saying: “Michael Shields got 10 more years, now he’s getting b*mmed by queers, 10 more years with no parole, now he’s got a sore a***hole.”
It all started in 2005, after Shields’ beloved club won the Champions League in Istanbul, and he was wrongfully convicted of attempted murder at the age of 18. When a man who was vacationing in the same resort as him was attacked, he was returning through Bulgaria.Due to the victim’s false identification, Shields received a 15-year prison sentence for attempted murder, which was ultimately lowered to 10 years. After four years, he was eventually able to return to England with a royal pardon.
Adam Crafton of The Athletic, an LGBTQ+ person, reposted the video of the United supporters. He said: “No doubt I’ll be told I’m woke here but could really do without a pub full of fans, even (A), singing lyrics that make gay people the joke.”
Fans, especially those who support United, also took issue with it. Someone said, “I have no idea why this song has resurfaced in recent months, but I really wish it hadn’t.”
Another person said, “I thought we’d consigned this s***e to the bin years ago,” while a third person echoed, saying, “Thought we’d knocked that s*** on the head.”
Rainbow Devils, United’s official LGBTQ+ supporters organization, demanded an end to homophobic chanting just half a year ago. “Education is key,” vice-chair Lindsay Parr stated on the club website. We also need to consider our younger fans.
“We want them to grow up in an egalitarian society. Additionally, I believe that some of our supporters who have come to support the team feel uncomfortable and excluded when we participate in inappropriate shouts.”
