Dan Walker, 43, shared his thoughts on Saturday night’s shocking incident during the Manchester derby at City’s Etihad stadium. The BBC Breakfast host addressed the racist abuse that was directed towards Manchester United players while they played Manchester City.
The match was interrupted by numerous Manchester City supporters hurling vile abuse and objects at the rival team, where one fan was caught on camera making racist gestures towards players.
It happened as United midfielder Fred, Frederico Rodrigues de Paula Santos, went to take a corner in the second half and appeared to be hit by an object hurled from the crowd.
With many viewers taking to social media to condemn this type of abuse that has “no place in the world,” the host also took to his official Twitter account to slam the people who caused the incident.
Dan, an avid football enthusiast who also presents Football Focus as part of his BBC duties, bashed the suspects who took part in the “vile” tirade towards the Manchester United players, that saw supporters hurl items onto the pitch, someone of which hit the footballers directly.
“Stick em in the centre circle and tell them to justify their behaviour to the fans and the players,” someone else concurred.
Another agreed: “Absolutely. I find it horrific that this is still an issue in today’s society.”
“Every stadium in the country should have posters plastered around the ground stating any instances of racism will result in an instant liftetime ban,” a third suggested.
A fourth exclaimed: “Football is a Game! How can grown men lose sight of that fact.”
Someone else quipped: “Totally agree. There is absolutely no room for this behaviour in any sport.”
Dan also posted another tweet about the match, calling for the police and the Football Association to punish the accused: “Find them, charge them, ban them for life,” he said.
The post racked up just short of 20, 000 likes from fans who also agreed that executive need to clamp down on racism in the game.
In a statement, Manchester City said they are working with police “regarding an instance of objects being thrown on to the field of play”.
The BBC reported a 41-year-old man has been held on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order and remains in custody after Saturday’s abhorrent behaviour by football fans.
After the match, the 26-year-old Brazilian midfielder said: “On the field, I didn’t see anything.
“I saw it only in the locker room afterwards. The guys showed me. [A man] even threw a lighter and it hit me,” he explained, after viewers of the match watched him clutch the back of his neck where an object that was thrown from the crowd, hit him.
Manchester United won 2-1, but Fred said the alleged incidents on Saturday showed “we are still in a backward society.”
Dan was one of many celebrities to speak out about the incident that has been widely reported in the news over the weekend.
BBC Breakfast airs weekdays at 6am on BBC.