eBay remove Munich memorabilia

February 11, 2008

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ITEMS commemorating the Manchester United Munich plane crash have been removed from sale online, eBay said tonight.

Bidding for an "Official Manchester United Munich Memorial Scarf and Match Programme" appeared to top nearly £10 million on the auction website within 24 hours of it being advertised.

The scarf was handed out to spectators at the Manchester United v Manchester City derby yesterday, according to a fan who attended the game.

An eBay spokeswoman said: "Due to the unique and commemorative nature of the scarves handed out at Sunday's football match at Manchester United, eBay will not allow the sale of these items on the site.

"We are working to ensure these listings are removed from the site immediately."

She said the "potential for profit to be made from human tragedy" conflicted with the site's Offensive Material policy.

The Munich air crash on February 6 1958 claimed the lives of 23 people, including football coaches and eight Manchester United players.

Munich plane crash survivor and former Manchester United player Albert Scanlon said: "You don't go to these things to make money."

No one from Manchester United FC could be reached for comment.

What do you think? Have your say.

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Munich scarfs cash-in

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Pink Final Postbag (11/02/2008 at 18:18)

Well done ebay. Those scarves should be treasured for generations.

Baron Cachoni (11/02/2008 at 19:50)

Why was it OK for someone to sell a programme for £2100 last week, cashing on on the anniversary, as reported without negative comment by the Evening News?

Bigmouth strikes again, Manchester (11/02/2008 at 19:57)

I will never sell my scarf, before i had even taken my seat at the game, the person behind me offered to buy it!

Mike, Manchester (11/02/2008 at 20:00)

There is one still for sale (current bid £6100) at 8pm tonight. Took me one search to find it.

Caring Mum, stockport (11/02/2008 at 21:13)

Yeah well done eBay! So why is it that I've just done a search on eBay for 'munich' and it came with at least 10 scarf with associated memborabilia rangeing from 99p to £7,000.00. Tried really hard to remove them I see, or is it just another stab a free publicity??

Ian (11/02/2008 at 21:27)

items are still for sale on ebay...surprise..surprise...

hypocrites...

Mack (11/02/2008 at 22:48)

Sad sad losers after all the fuss about how city fans would be disrespect the occasion. This is not only hypocritical but shameful, cause I only saw united scarves for sale!!!!

BluePolarBear, ex of Stockport (11/02/2008 at 23:27)

Is this what it comes down to in the modern market?,the immediate selling of memories,and potentially cherished items to people who didn't even attend the match/event itself?
I have one of those scarfs,because I went to the match,I wouldn't sell it off,nor the programme,unless I needed money for food.
The value of the scarf and programme,is only the value we give to it,and I would imagine that for most people,they'd give it value because at least one of the disaster/the memorial/ or the match,meant something emotional to them.
The e-bay generation probably brought extra programmes too,just to flog,thus depriving other people of a programme.Thatcher's children eh!

Oz Blue (12/02/2008 at 06:22)

As yet Ebay are not being true to there word and there are still lots of scarfs on sale.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dessie, manchester (12/02/2008 at 07:54)

are these people proper man utd fans? i think not!!

jopel mycntyre (12/02/2008 at 08:38)

That was really always going to happen wasn't it? Maybe putting one up for auction in 50 years time might be acceptable but the speed with which people have put them up for sale is staggering.

A real shame but then it says a lot about Britain today - people always on the look out for opportunities to make quick and easy cash. Ebay should be applauded for removing the items.

I'm a Stockport fan and even I wouldn't consider flogging one of these scarves. It'd be treasured and passed down (should any of my kids bring shame on my family and decide to become a Red).

redsy (12/02/2008 at 09:13)

I find it incredible that people would stop to such depths to make a few quid.

robbie (12/02/2008 at 09:15)

I heard this story yesterday so had a look on ebay, sadly its seems a large number of people are selling these items,

they should all hang there heads in shame.

Pie in the Sky, Manchester (12/02/2008 at 09:50)

I was one of those to complain to Ebay yesterday and again last night. I've also sent a message to the MEN and the BBC.
There are still items for sale this morning. Come on Ebay, get them removed.
There are a couple of Man City scarf's on Ebay but not as many as there are for Man U.
The more people who complain to Ebay the more likely they are to remove and put in place a review of these sales.
You all need to report the reference numbers of each auction to Ebay. If you go to "Contact Us" on their website and follow the links for Offensive Material you will find an option for "Items from or linked to disastrous or tragic events". This is the option to list your complaint under but you can only list the auction numbers.

RANDYRED (12/02/2008 at 09:54)

It makes me sad to follow utd when this happens,normal decent real red fans would not sell the scarfs and programmes.
Just scum who dont give a damn about utd.
Give up your seats for the ppl who went way back in the 1980's like my self where it was good and standing was allowed.
Now that was a day out,get rid of the cheshire lot,infact make it a postcode lottery every 1 who lives in manchester gets to buy seats first or the season ticket.

Colin Bell was class (12/02/2008 at 09:56)

United fans, quite rightly, made a big deal in demanding respect from City fans during the minutes silence. Then some of them try to make a quick buck on Ebay (The Glazers would be so proud of you) by selling the scarves GIVEN to them to commemorate a special day which was meant to be close to all United fans' hearts. Closer to their wallets it would appear in some cases. The double standards of some people beggars belief.

robbie (12/02/2008 at 11:03)

a quick search and i have found the following items for sale

220201316826
270211151522
110223850584
120221550736
160208002776
230222078934
230222079342
170193268766
220201364835

i have asked for these to be removed from ebay

John-Thai sandwich brigade (12/02/2008 at 11:41)

people will just keep them for a few years and then their family will sell them in a legal football auction,

like the "munich plaque" given to the players before the game and picked up and saved by an employee of the airport. sold for thousands.
like the FA cup programme, 1958 with all the united names blank. sold last week.

some ##### once tried to sell a lock of Busby's hair.
cut from his body in the chapel of rest.
that was sickening and he was sent to prison.

but these people exist.
and sometimes it is legal, not moral, but legal.

I have 1890-1919 war medals from my granddad
[ and his hand-written will from 1914 August 16th France ]
they not for sale. but in 50 years time.who knows what my family will do with them.

hodie, wiltshire (12/02/2008 at 12:14)

The sellers are a disgrace but in a society devoted to making a fast buck and where acquiring cash dominates everything in the premiership, why are we surprised. The prices paid for the original post Munich programme have been illustrating that for years. Any real sense of values dossappeared long since.

help (12/02/2008 at 12:16)

Both sets of "fans" appear to be selling, one blue fans comments are highlighted in the evening news page 2. For me we have 3 scarfs at my house, my two sons and me, theirs are adorning their respective bedrooms. for me i am in the process of framing this lasting momento to go alongside my other United stuff on the wall I am allowed by the other half to display my affection for a team called United. Shame on any "fan" who jumps on this bandwagon. Best way to shut them down is go on ebay and put £100m bids in.

Pippa, Manchester (12/02/2008 at 12:42)

Funny how MEN didn't seem to have a problem making money from the Munich disaster in January of this year: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1033824_munich_remembered.

Peter Jones (12/02/2008 at 13:01)

Pippa, the difference between the MEN putting together a 48-page Munich tribute and charging £1 and a fan (you, maybe?) selling a scarf GIVEN to them at the game is obvious. The MEN invested time and effort the make something of value, that fans can keep for ever to help remember a special day. £1 for 48 pages - they are not going to make much money from that. It might just cover the cost of making it, and it carried no advertising.

When you think about it, selling a scarf on ebay does not compare; but thinking is not a prerequisite of the glib self-satisfied comment is it?

Barrie cumings (12/02/2008 at 13:30)

pipa if you read the evening news you will understand that all the proceeds will go to to 2 charities unicef and a manchester one

Barrie cumings (12/02/2008 at 13:32)

www.mancityfans.net reported this

Garsinho, Manchester (12/02/2008 at 13:40)

One seller on ebay said he/she had 36 scarves/programmmes to sell. I presume that the scarves/programes were left on or underneath the seats but not sure. If they were then this person must have got in the ground early and went round collecting them up. How low is that. Stealing from your own fans.

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