Yesterday in European soccer: Manchester United won 1-0 against Southampton to continue top of the table. You would think that’s the headline.
It was not.
The headline was that due to political correctness which has now reached all walks of life, the Manchester police is called upon as from the next Manchester United match to check who is singing the infamous ‘penis chant’.
Allow me to explain to my American readers what all the fuss is about.
Just as in the US with the NFL, if you are a straight male in Europe, chances are pretty big that during the weekend you support your local soccer team. Examples are Real Madrid or Barcelona in Spain, Bayern or Dortmund in Germany, Manchester United or Chelsea in the UK, and we could continue for a while here.
Soccer fans are known to be mostly rowdy, masculine, beer drinking and … singing chants to the teams. If a player does exceptionally well, he gets his own song, based on his name and sorts. You get the picture, I’m sure.
Romelu Lukaku is a Belgian attacker who was bought for about 100 million dollars from Everton over the summer break. He is very close friends with French midfielder Paul Pogba and the team has been doing extremely well since those two got together. Lukaku has scored a whopping 8 goals in 8 matches for Manchester United.
The fans are thrilled. They of course made him his own song, based on his name and imposing, let’s call it, ‘body’. Here is the song (don’t worry about the UK Manchester accent, there’s subtitles):
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However the Manchester police and the BBC are not too happy about it. They have to allow kids into the stadium and have to show the matches on TV whilst the song is being sung. So as from next week, CCTV cameras will be on the supporters and not on the players for once. 20 extra police officers will be called in to see who in the crowd is singing the song so these people can be fined.
Manchester United club statement: "The club and the player have been clear in asking for an end to the chant. The club is in discussion with the police and has asked for CCTV footage from Southampton."
By the way, who do you think scored the 1-0 against Southampton. You’re right: Lukaku. Guess what they were singing? Right again.
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