This archive report was first published on 10 December 2019.
On December 7, 2019, a heated Manchester derby match took place at the Etihad Stadium, with Manchester City facing off against Manchester United.
During the match, Manchester United midfielder Fred was allegedly subjected to racial abuse by a Manchester City fan, identified as 41-year-old Anthony Burke.
According to reports, Burke made a gesture towards Fred, which was captured on Sky Sports cameras. The incident was widely condemned by both managers, Pep Guardiola and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Greater Manchester Police subsequently arrested Burke, who denied the allegations. He has since been released on bail, pending further investigations.
In a statement on his Facebook profile, Burke refuted the allegation that he is a racist, claiming that a screenshot had been manipulated to make him appear racist.
Meanwhile, Fred described the incident as a reflection of a 'backward society', stating that it was a shame that such behavior still existed in 2019.
