Old Trafford abuse of Wenger was vile and totally unacceptable

By John Cross

Published 16:41 02/09/09

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The sending off of Arsene Wenger at Old Trafford for kicking a water bottle in frustration at seeing Arsenal outplay Manchester United and still lose was a joke.

But what certainly wasn't funny were the chants that accompanied Wenger's comical retreat to the stands.

You could hear them on Sky. We all know what the chant is but I can't - and won't - repeat it here because it's libelous, wrong and deeply disrespectful to one of the all-time great managers.

But if you go on to Amazon you can buy that song on a CD of football songs. Play.com had the good sense to take it down after complaints.

Wenger, despite everything, stood there among the United fans and smiled. What an incredible man.

I remember, though, Sir Alex Ferguson complaining bitterly about security and stewarding at the Emirates a couple of seasons back when he felt Arsenal fans were getting too close to his bench.

But going back to those chants, how is it that United aren't taking action? How is it that Tottenham fans are allowed to routinely sing those sick songs during every north London derby?

You can't make racist chants. People get arrested for those sort of chants and, in my view, should not only be banned from that ground but get a lifetime ban from every ground in the country.

Don't think for a moment Arsenal fans are whiter than white. They sing homophobic chants about Ashley Cole every time Arsenal play Chelsea.

I was at the Emirates covering Arsenal's defeat to Chelsea in May. A fan, with his young child sat next to him, shouted homophobic abuse at Cole at regular intervals during the first half. It was loud and not great parenting.

At half-time when I could get to the nearest steward, I went up to him and asked him to take action against the Arsenal fan for the homophobic chanting. The steward said he hadn't heard the chants. He must be deaf.

But you can abuse Arsene Wenger with the worst sort of allegation possible. One that is completely and utterly untrue. What a joke.

Follow Crossie on twitter at johncrossmirror

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