ManU has been asked to stop its supporters from "singing a song about Romelu Lukaku's manhood," according to Paul Hirst of the LONDON TIMES. Football anti-discrimination campaign group Kick It Out claims that the chant is "offensive, discriminatory and reinforces racist stereotypes." Video emerged of ManU fans singing the song about Lukaku, who signed from EPL side Everton in a £90M ($121.7M) deal in July, during the club's 3-0 win at home to Basel in the Champions League last week. The song, to the tune of the Stone Roses' "Made of Stone," makes reference to the size of the striker's penis. Kick It Out said that the song "should be banned because it reinforced the stereotype that black men are better endowed than others." A Kick It Out spokesperson added, "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" (
LONDON TIMES, 9/19).
'UNACCEPTABLE CONDUCT': The PA reported Premier League side Leicester City issued stadium bans to three people for their "unacceptable conduct" during Brighton & Hove Albion's visit on Aug. 19. The trio's exclusions "range from two to 12 months and two of those banned have also been subject to criminal proceedings" -- one resulting in a conditional police caution and another a "significant fine" (PA, 9/19).
