Manchester United have been urged to stop their supporters singing a song about Romelu Lukaku that makes reference to the size of the striker’s manhood on the basis that it reinforces racist stereotypes.
The anti-discrimination organization Kick It Out intervened after footage emerged of United fans singing the song, which goes to the tune of the Stone Roses hit Made of Stone, during the team’s 3-0 victory over Basel at Old Trafford in the Champions League last week.
It is believed to have been repeated during Sunday’s 4-0 win against Everton at the same venue when Lukaku, who joined United from the Merseyside club for a fee of £75m rising to £90m with add-ons in July, scored one goal and assisted another.
A reward with a chant
As a “reward” for an impressive performance on the pitch, his supporters came up with a novel way to pay their respects to the talented striker.
But the chant – sang along to the tune Made of Stone by Manchester band Stone Roses – contains some rather explicit lyrics
During the Basel game, some inventive Manchester United fans unveiled a new song for their big Belgian striker.
It goes like this:
“Romelu Lukaku,
He’s our Belgium scoring genius,
He’s got a 24inch p***,
Scoring all the goals,
bellend to his toes”
Manchester United Cautioned
Kick It Out have written directly to United asking them to act and in a statement published by The Times, a spokesperson for the organization is quoted as saying: “Kick It Out is aware of the footage of the alleged racist chanting by supporters of Manchester United that emerged on Wednesday evening [13 September].
“The lyrics used in the chant are offensive and discriminatory. Racist stereotypes are never acceptable in football or wider society, irrespective of showing support for a player.”
“We have contacted Manchester United and will be working closely with them and the FA to ensure that the issue is addressed swiftly. The perpetrators can expect to face punishment.”
Similar chant
A similar debate cropped up in 2011 when Spurs fans were urged not to sing a chant about Emmanuel Adebayor.
The club conceded it was offensive in nature, but not racist.
Kick It Out condemned the song saying it had “racial undertones” and the player himself appeared upset by it.
“Big players better than me have tried to stop that, but it’s not easy at all. We have done everything we can to show the red card to racism,” he said.
“But people are still into it, that’s part of life.”