Man City fan charged for alleged racist abuse of Man Utd’s Fred

A Manchester City supporter has been charged by police after appearing to hurl racist abuse at Man Utd midfielder, Fred in December.

Anthony Burke was arrested for alleged racist abuse and faces a life ban from the Etihad Stadium if found guilty.

Fred and Jesse Lingard both reported the incident after watching Sky Sports video footage inside the Manchester United dressing room.

One man was captured making an alleged monkey gesture towards the pair as they went to take a Manchester United corner midway through the second half.

A Greater Manchester Police (GMP) statement read: ‘A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order (offence) and remains in custody for questioning.’ MailOnline identified the fan arrested as Anthony Burke, an Army veteran who works as a civil engineering manager at Kier Group.

GMP Superintendent Chris Hill said: ‘I would like to thank the public for their ongoing support with this incident.

‘Racism of any kind has no place in football or our society and I hope this arrest shows that we are taking this matter extremely seriously. We will continue to work with Manchester City and Manchester United on this incident and will investigate any other lines of enquiries.’

The FA are also investigating and the episode came almost exactly a year after Raheem Sterling alleged he had been racially abused by a Chelsea fan at Stamford Bridge.

City’s chief executive Ferran Soriano sought United director David Gill immediately after the match to stress that the Premier League champions would do everything in their power to take decisive action. United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward did not attend the derby.

There was confidence at being able to identify any potential perpetrators given anyone purchasing a ticket for games is registered with the club.

City manager Pep Guardiola spent time with Fred — a midfielder he was once keen on signing — in the tunnel area as the two sides began departing the stadium.

‘Unfortunately, we are still in a backward society,’ Fred told ESPN Brazil. ‘We still have to live with that in 2019.

‘I try not to care about that. I try to look ahead. Unfortunately, this is happening in some stadiums. It happened here, it happened in Ukraine with some friends.

‘It’s sad, but we have to keep our heads up and forget about that. We can’t give them any attention because that’s all they want. I spoke to the referee (Anthony Taylor) after the match, they will do something about it and that’s all.

‘Thank God I have a lot of friends in the locker room who hugged me, like Lingard. I don’t want to think about it. I just want to move on.’

Fred was also struck in the head by a lighter from one corner of the Etihad Stadium. Rio Ferdinand was bloodied by a coin at the same end in 2012.

It is believed that objects were hurled at celebrating United players as Marcus Rashford’s penalty gave them a lead before half-time.

Chosen as Saturday’s late kick-off for broadcasting purposes, the derby was fractious all afternoon. Fighting occurred before and after the game.

Sportsmail understands one City fan was ejected amid a heated argument with a member of United staff sitting in the Colin Bell Stand. The employee had enthusiastically celebrated Anthony Martial’s second goal on 29 minutes. Both men were spoken to by security staff.

Meanwhile, Forest Green have launched an investigation and are expecting swift action to be taken by police after their 2-0 home defeat by Scunthorpe was halted because of reports of racist abuse.

Referee John Busby stopped the League One match when he was approached by Scunthorpe’s players who claimed defender Jordan Clarke had been racially abused by one home supporter.