Man City fan arrested for allegedly mocking the Munich air disaster during derby with Man Utd

Two old adversaries locked horns at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, with Premier League title hopefuls City running out 3-1 winners on the day courtesy of a brace from Phil Foden and a 28th goal of the season from Erling Haaland.

During that contest, video emerged of a spectator supposedly making inflammatory gestures towards United fans. The actions of the individual, which saw him spread his arms to apparently mimic an airplane, are considered to reference the Munich air disaster from 1958 which claimed the lives of 23 people.

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that a man was arrested. A statement from a GMP spokesperson given to The Athletic reads: “During the Manchester derby, officers arrested a man on suspicion of tragedy chanting. Following reports made in the crowd, the man was promptly arrested by our officers.”

Action was taken in 2023 following a petition - which gained over 17,000 signatures in the space of week - called for tragedy chanting at football matches to become a criminal offence. The UK government said: “The Government is committed to tackling all harmful behaviours at football matches. Existing legislation can be used to prosecute those engaging in chanting about tragedies and death at football. Existing law can be used to prosecute offenders chanting or shouting about tragedies and death at football matches. The Public Order Act 1986 (POA) provides for situations where threatening or abusive language can meet the threshold for arrest and prosecution. Section 4A of the POA sets out that a person is guilty of an offence if, with intent to cause a person harassment, alarm or distress, they use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, thereby causing that or another person harassment, alarm or distress. Section 5 of the POA sets out that a person is guilty of an offence if they use threatening or abusive words or behaviour, within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress.”