Offensive? Yes, certainly. But should it really be criminal to make the airplane gesture in relation to Man United? I cannot think that it can be or should be.
I dont know how well even the fans of football on this site will know lower league teams, but my teams (Norwich City) nearest rivals are Ipswich Town. A few years ago the goalkeeper of City, Bryan Gunn, had a daughter who died of cancer. At the next game an Ipswich fan was chanting mocking songs about the death of the guys daughter.
This certainly offends me. I certainly would have no problem punching the guy in the face. But again I cant see how it is criminal. Simple speech, that does not incite violence or hatrid of a minority surely cannot be illegal in its own right (ie without threat, or extortion, etc etc)
Quote:
A man has been arrested following a complaint that Crawley Town's FA Cup song featured a supporter mocking the victims of the Munich air crash.
The non-league side and musician Mike Dobie recorded The Specials' A Message To You Rudy as A Message To You Rooney, ahead of their Manchester United match.
A United fan complained that the video, posted on YouTube, featured a supporter making aircraft gestures.
The 1958 air crash left 23 people dead, including eight United players.
Manchester United were returning from a European Cup tie against Red Star Belgrade when their plane crashed on a runway in Munich.
Crawley Town will face United in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Old Trafford on Saturday.
A spokeswoman added: "A 19-year-old man was last night arrested by police in Crawley following complaints about the content of a music video produced to support Crawley Town Football Club in its FA Cup run.
"The man from Crawley was arrested under the Public Order Act on suspicion of causing harassment, alarm or distress and has been bailed until 25 February pending further inquiries.
"As part of his bail conditions the man is not allowed to travel to Manchester for the Crawley Town Football Club match against Manchester United on Saturday."
A poster of the Busby Babes marking the 50th anniversary of the disaster Seven players were killed in the crash and one died in hospital 15 days later
Crawley Town are believed to have given the fan a lifetime ban from the club.
Wilf McGuinness, who was a United player at the time of the disaster, said: "They just don't know what it means actually, when people shout bad things about that especially they don't realise.
"It doesn't hurt now because we think they're just stupid."
Mr Dobie said: "The video was done with the intention of a feel-good factor.
"Nobody spotted it... and I'd obviously like to continue talking about the positive side because I realise that's not what we're about."
A re-edited version of the song, featuring the lyrics "Rooney, a message to you Rooney, we're going to Wembley", has been put on the club's website.
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