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Noisy neighbours

Man City chiefs to meet over Munich chants

Eastlands officials will move to stamp out references to Man United’s famous air disaster before the Blues’ date at Wembley.

EASTLANDS CHIEFS WILL this week hold a ‘series of meetings’ to determine an appropriate response to last night’s repeated chants from Man City fans about the Munich air disaster.

Roberto Mancini’s men ran out 1-0 winners in the televised Monday night game but chants of  ’Who put the ball in the Munichs’ net’ to Yaya Toure tarnished the victory.

The midfielder scored the FA Cup semi-final winner against Manchester United at Wembley earlier this month.

Edin Dzeko scored the only goal last night.

City’s chief executive Garry Cook is said to be ‘acutely aware’ that the club have worked tirelessly to eradicate such chanting in recent times.

Eastlands have taken out banning orders against supporters caught on camera making aeroplane gestures, in reference to the crash in February 1958 when 20 people, including eight Manchester United players, died following a refuelling stop in Munich.

However, there remains a section of the City support who are undeterred by such action. After the game some defended their use of “Munichs” as a  term to describe United supporters, arguing online that it is not offensive.

Famously, a match-day programme referred to the Old Trafford club as Munichs in 2000. But in 2008, City fans earned widespread praise for impeccably honouring a minutes’ silence at Old Trafford marking the 50th anniversary of the disaster.

City’s discussions seem certain to result in further calls to end chanting relating to the Munich crash, in the hope it can be avoided when they take part in the FA Cup final against Stoke on May 14.

Should they win that game in London against the Potters and rivals United wrap up the league, the sides will meet in the Community Shield in August in the season curtain-raiser.

- additional reporting PA

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