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Man City release statement after fan appears to racially abuse Man Utd’s Jesse Lingard


A Man City fan appears to racially abuse Jesse Lingard (Picture: Sky Sports)

Manchester City have confirmed they are working with Greater Manchester Police as they look to identify the fan who appeared to racially abuse Jesse Lingard at the Etihad on Saturday.

Manchester United midfielder Fred went to take a corner in front of the City fans and was hit with an object thrown from the stands.

Lingard then went over towards the corner and a spectator was seen to make monkey gestures towards him.

A statement from the club read: ‘Manchester City FC are aware of a video circulating on social media which appears to show a supporter making racial gestures during the second half of the match against Manchester United this evening.

‘Officials from the Club are working with Greater Manchester Police in order to help them identify any individuals concerned and assist with their enquiries.

‘The Club are also working with GMP regarding an instance of objects being thrown onto the field of play.

‘The Club operates a zero tolerance policy regarding discrimination of any kind, and anyone found guilty of racial abuse will be banned from the club for life.’

Fred received physical and verbal abuse from fans (Picture: Getty Images)

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said of the incident: ‘I’ve seen it on the video, Fred and Jesse taking coins from the City fans and then there’s this not so intelligent fella chanting racist abuse to my two players.

‘I hope the authorities will deal with it because he shouldn’t be watching football again, not live anyway.

‘We have to stamp it out. We keep talking about it every single week. He should not be allowed back into grounds, that’s as simple as it is

‘It’s [racism] every day, we’re talking about this, we have to stamp it out.’

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola added: ‘I support the club and they’re going to work to avoid it happening again.’

Former Man City and England defender Micah Richards told Sky Sports: ‘It’s difficult becaus esocial media is so big nowadays, maybe 10 years ago that wouldn’t have been seen.

‘Incidents like this keep recurring and recurring and recurring, you can’t blame the whole ground, you can’t blame Manchester City, it’s one fan that looks like he’s been caught.

‘It’s difficult, I feel that we’re in an age now that everyone should be able to be themselves and not be judged by the colour of their skin or their gender or anything like that.

‘It seems that we’re having petty conversations about the same thing and for me it’s disheartening.’

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