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Thugs threaten `Busby Babes' tribute

A planned minute of silence for victims of the Munich air disaster is creating plenty of noise.

The tribute, intended as a mark of respect to the eight Manchester United players and 15 other people who died in the 1958 crash, will be staged before kickoff when United host rivals Manchester City in a Premier League game next week.

But both teams fear the tribute could end in major trouble, and they can't agree how to avoid it.

They're worried that City fans inside 76,000-capacity Old Trafford might spoil the somber occasion with chants or disruptive shouts. If that happens, United fans might retaliate, shaming the memories of those who died.

The English Football Association announced on Monday that it will stage a minute's silence when England hosts Switzerland at Wembley on Feb. 6 -- the 50th anniversary of the Munich crash.

"We believe very strongly that this should be and will be respected and that there's a feeling across the whole country that a minute's silence is the best and most appropriate way to remember everybody who lost their lives in the tragedy," FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said.

While the FA is wary that non-Manchester United fans may disrupt the silence at Wembley, what happens four days later when the same thing happens at United's game against City is causing a major headache.

Because of the intense rivalry between the two teams, even City fans who are happy to respect the memory of the lost "Busby Babes" fear that the hooligan element among their following won't keep quiet.

They have suggested a minute's applause, instead of silence, so that anyone who tries to disrupt the occasion won't be heard.

"We plead with Manchester United to change from the proposed minute's silence to a minute's applause to allow all true football fans a chance to show their respects," Kevin Parker, secretary of the City supporters' club, said in a letter to United. "In this way, any idiots who do not share these views will be drowned out rather than highlighted."

The idea of applause rather than silence for great stars who died has been going on for years, chiefly in Italy, and has been adopted in England.

United fans did both after the death of their greatest player, George Best, two years ago. There was a minute's silence before their next game, a League Cup match, and a minute's applause before their next Premier League game.

But United doesn't feel that applause is appropriate this time because 23 people, not just eight soccer stars, died. Over the years since the crash, the team manager, Matt Busby, and four more players have died, and only five of the "Babes" survive.

"Manchester United have given great thought to the best way of remembering those who died at Munich. We feel a minute's silence is the most appropriate way of paying tribute," United spokesman Phil Townsend said. "We do not feel that applause is appropriate given that 23 people died."

United manager Alex Ferguson said his club would not change its plans for the minute's silence.

"I think we are doing the best thing for Manchester United and the people concerned," Ferguson said. "We are not going to be influenced by some outside influence."

"We have spoken to all the people concerned with what happened that particular tragic day -- the players who were involved and families. So, yes, we are doing the right thing and we always try to do the right things," he said.

United have also pointed out to the City fans that Busby, who died in 1994, was a longtime player for their club and that Frank Swift, one of eight soccer reporters who died in the crash, was formerly a City goalkeeper considered one of England's finest.

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and team captain Richard Dunne also wrote to the 3,000 City fans who have asked for tickets to the game to uphold the club's good name.

But whatever they say may well be forgotten when the whistle blows before the game at Old Trafford to start the minute's silence.

For many of the fans it could just come down to United versus City. The "silent" memory of the Busby Babes could be drowned in violence and hate.
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