Danny Murphy defends Leeds fans signing about Manchester United players
Danny Murphy has insisted Leeds United fans singing about Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho at Old Trafford is part of football.
The bitter rivals met on Saturday in their opening fixture of the new Premier League campaign, and the travelling fans mocked the attacking duo for missing their penalty kicks in the final of the European Championship against Italy.
Manchester United supporters are not happy with the incident, but Murphy has defended their Whites counterparts, saying it is part of the game.
The BBC pundit said on talkSPORT, as shared on their official Twitter account: “If you’re talking about the Leeds fans singing about the United boys about letting the country down, well, I saw [David] Beckham when he kicked at (Diego) Simeone at Argentina and he just used it. I remember him getting hammered at Anfield and it was brilliant. That’s part of football.
“If you can’t take that you’re in the wrong job. If you’re talking about homophobia or racism, unacceptable, not needed. Songs that used to get sung when I was young about disasters, unacceptable of course.
“We know the line between right and wrong. It’s dreadful of course when we listen to certain things…Liverpool apologised for that which is fair enough.
“But you’re going to get the lads who missed penalties getting some stick from supporters at every ground they go to. It’s just part and parcel, it might affect them but that is just football.”
Fierce rivalry
The ugly scenes where both sets of fans fought prior to the game is something we are very much against, and while opinion is divided about the singing, it should not be forgotten that rivals are always going to be rivals.
Leeds fans will cheer Rashford and Sancho on whenever they play for England, but once they are in the Red Devils shirt, they are not going to escape banter.
Had Kalvin Phillips missed a spot-kick at the Euros, we are certain Man Utd fans would not have spared him on Saturday.
No one has abused the duo.
They have not actually let the country down by missing penalties, but fans are always going to find a way to mock their opponents, and that is not likely to change anytime soon.
The Whites have not made any statement about it as there is none to be made.
Fans banter and that is simply what has happened.
Not everyone would agree with Murphy, but if you cannot stomach humour, then there is nothing fans can do about it.
Man Utd had the last laugh in the end, and Sancho would have loved to get in on the act in the 5-1 victory to get back at Leeds fans.
In other Leeds news, Kalvin Phillips sends four-word Insta message to Whites player after big announcement.