Paint attack on Munich tribute

John Scheerhout

January 30, 2008

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Workmen remove paint from AIG logo on the Munich Busby Babes poster at Manchester United

MANCHESTER United today slammed the `mindless idiots' who threw paint bombs at the club's controversial Munich tribute.

It is believed protesters were aiming at the part of the tribute which features the logo of main club sponsor, AIG, the American insurance giant.

Some fans have described the presence of the logo as `vulgar' but the club has defended the tribute on the east stand at Old Trafford.

Last night the protesters launched two paint bombs at the logo. One of them is believed to have missed the target but the other hit.

Staff at Old Trafford were working on repairing the damage today to restore the memorial, including the logo.

Club spokesman Phil Townsend told the M.E.N: "A couple of paint bombs were thrown at the Munich tribute on the east stand last night.

"It's just a group of mindless idiots who have vandalised a tribute to the Busby Babes."

He also defended the presence of the AIG logo, saying: "It's not an advert. It's a tribute by one of our major partners and we are entirely comfortable with it."

The banner has already had to be altered once after the club got the wording wrong.

Some supporters criticised the club for omitting the word `Busby' from the enormous tribute, which features the words to the United calypso terrace chant and covers the front of Old Trafford's East Stand.

The blunder was spotted by fans and later rectified by the club.

The huge tribute, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, features a picture of the Babes' final line-up against Red Star Belgrade, along with the words to the calypso chant.

The wording was changed from `bouncing Babes' to `bouncing Busby Babes'.

Reaction was mixed from fans on the Red Issue website.

One said `a can of spray paint is totally appropriate' but another said: "This is a disgrace if true. Defacing a tribute is defacing a tribute whatever the intentions may be."

Another wrote: "Anyone who's taken the time and risk to get that aberration off the tribute deserves our thanks and respect."

The M.E.N has published a 48 page special to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the air disaster. It is on sale now .

What do you think? Have your say.

Leave a tribute to the Babes here .

Read more about the anniversary via the links on the right of this page and at the United section .

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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

ace, manchester (30/01/2008 at 11:49)

And cameron and brown dont think the country is out of control?

Munkey Boy, Audenshaw, Manchester (30/01/2008 at 12:08)

I know ace, I'm sure this kind of thing has never gone on before.

(Thats sarcasm by the way).

redsy (30/01/2008 at 12:08)

He also defended the presence of the AIG logo, saying: "It's not an advert. It's a tribute by one of our major partners and we are entirely comfortable with it."

You couldn't make it up! unbelievable!

Blue Ape With A Drum (30/01/2008 at 12:17)

Ace,the country was as much out of control,in the hooligans heyday.It's just that the scene of violence has largely shifted away from football.
After all the demonising of city fans in our national media this week,i'm amazed that we haven't got the blame for this.Though to be honest AIG and United have offered up a horrible spectacle of commerce uber alles by allowing the logo on this poster.That is sad...and enough to make anyone angry.

berger1985, Real Manchester (30/01/2008 at 12:19)

Pathetic. MUFC should be ashamed, good on the fans for showing what they think of an AIG 'sponsored' tribute.

CTID

The Bobelesque (30/01/2008 at 12:20)

These are the mindless morons (mainly bred within football culture) who despoil war memorials, graves, public statuary etc.

Nobody cares when Victoria, or the unknown soldier get splattered - why should anyone care about this?

Jack Thorley Timperley (30/01/2008 at 12:29)

On the day of the match this poster will be shown throughout the World via television.Not a free advert?

MK Red, Milton Keynes (30/01/2008 at 12:29)

AIG or no AIG, we will always remember the players of Man United and Bayern Munich who died in this awful disaster all those years ago.

mr man utd (30/01/2008 at 12:43)

I think some supporters are becoming paranoid now,and it must stop now.Since when has violence solved anything.I find no offence with AIG logo and there is no way you can perceive that they are advertising or making money ou of the board.AIG agreed to United playing without their brand on shirts and thats where advertising could be shouted at much not that board,half the world will not even see that board but will see Ronaldo wearing AIG branded shirt.Come on guys,you are embarrasing the club

Free Red, Manchester (30/01/2008 at 12:45)

Quotation: "It's not an advert. It's a tribute by one of our major partners and we are entirely comfortable with it."

In there lies the problem. The suits at Old Trafford might be entirely comfortable with AIG using the Munich air disaster as a way to advertise insurance but that does not reflect what others are comfortable with. This giant advertising hording is in bad taste and I would have been more surprised if something like this hadn't happened sooner or later.

Kiwi-blue, Christchurch NZ (30/01/2008 at 12:47)

I'm not defending acts of vandalism, but didn't it occur to united & aig that this logo would attract this kind of reaction?

Mr T (30/01/2008 at 12:53)

This is not an attack on the AIG logo, but an attack on The Babes, all who died at Munich and on Manchester United Football Club. These mindless idiots do not represent match going United fans and have insulted Manchester United, its history and its genuine fans. The MEN has given these idiots the publicity they wanted. I seriously now hope that the logo stays up, to show these idiots that their actions are not going to win a cause. I hope security is stepped up and if they plan future attackes, the culprits are arrested.

mr man utd (30/01/2008 at 12:57)

When M.E.N prints and sell the busby babes tributes its no problem, the same people buy it and when united put AIG sponsored ,supporters put paint.Move over the paranoid minds you have.

TracyR, Manchester (30/01/2008 at 13:02)

Being offended and reacting in this way are two different things.
I find the logo distateful, but also appreiate that United wouldn't be the size it is without marketing guru's. I could never sanction criminal action like this because the first time someone pours paint on my car for having a United sticker on it, I don't want this thrown in my face.
Forget the logo, if I who wasn't born when the air disaster happened can look at this and feel moved, they've done something right.

Mike (30/01/2008 at 13:05)

MK Red, think you might want to check on the history of the Munich air disaster

Colm Lambert (30/01/2008 at 13:24)

"It's a tribute by one of our major partners"

So what Townsend is effectively saying is that it's an AIG billboard, and that if they hadn't paid for it the club would have had nothing there. Nothing to commemorate the lives and deaths of 8 of the greatest team Manchester's ever seen? Nothing to mark the 50th anniversary of the most tragic event in the club's history? That says it all for me.

Gareth Quinn (30/01/2008 at 13:26)

The Club should be ashamed of themselves.
The AIG Logo sums the current direction of The Club.
Although throwing paint at this tribute is not the answer and can't be condoned you can say Manchester United have allready tainted this tribute with the logo.
Mr Gill and Mr Glazer you should bow your head in shame.

Victoria Smith (30/01/2008 at 13:36)

Please go an support FC United and leave this club alone, these people are just mindless thugs. This protest over the AIG sign is over the top.

Caped Crusader, Gotham City (30/01/2008 at 13:44)

Phil Townend - Just remind us all again how many AIG staff were on the plane?

Blip, Manchester (30/01/2008 at 13:45)

Mr T, what are you, and people like you on? I'm a Blue, but completely understand the feelings of the reds who are against this blatant exploitation of the disaster by United's sponsors. And shame on United for defending the presence of the logo as some sort of 'compassionate' gesture. If they want to do something really useful, why don't they make a contribution to the victims' families instead of jumping on the bandwagon for some free publicity?

Myoldman, Manchester (30/01/2008 at 13:53)

The AIG logo is an advert, it's as simple as that, otherwise why is it there? It carries no message with it other than the name AIG.
It is therefore an advert trying to make money from a poster commemorating the tragic deaths of so many dearly loved people. It is an absolute disgrace and insult that the logo is there and a further indication of how nothing
matters other than money to the suits at United. They just didn't see the offence that this would cause and that it was always likely to lead to someone taking the law into their own hands to try to obliterate the logo.

Chipie, Perth Australia (30/01/2008 at 13:53)

How sad a moving tribute to the Busby Babes has to be commercialised,no sponsor logo in their day,an even sadder reflection of my club and where it is today, pure business, no sole, which is heartbraking to many loyal and lifelong Reds.

mick the red fireman, middleton (30/01/2008 at 13:54)

The SCUM who did it are no better than the SCUM who sang " Going to the golden jubilee, you can stick your minutes silence up your **** and the Munich runway song " at Bramhall Ln last Sunday.

arthurdawkins (30/01/2008 at 13:56)

Its not just football ?? Our
former Green And Pleasent Land is teeming with scum...
Makes one wonder what the lads who gave their lives
so that people could taste
freedom would think !! What a
shambles of a country it is.
The best thing i ever did was
LEAVE !!! Ever go back?? AND
PIGS CAN....THAIART...

Pete (30/01/2008 at 14:00)

Typical MUFC mentality. In the weeks City fans have been demonised in all the major press - in case there are any poor taste gestures at the derby, and their effort to minimise any impact this could cause have been snubbed, what happens? United fans deface a tribute to those players who were lost (not the other staff, jounalists etc who were killed) their very own players. A case of do as I say and not as I do. Get your own house in order.

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