After yet another sickening and vile ninety minutes of abuse at Old Trafford, I felt compelled to send this letter to the FA. Please feel free to publish it.

The more of us that make the complaint, the better the chances of action being taken by the FA, Man. Utd or the local constabulary...

Mr. Ian Watmore
Chief Executive
The Football Association
Wembley Stadium
London
HA9 0WS

30th August 2009

Dear Mr. Watmore,

I am writing to you to express my utter disgust and revulsion at the chants aimed at Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger during the match between his side and Manchester United at Old Trafford on 29th August 2009.

As I am sure you are aware, great swathes of the Old Trafford crowd persist in singing along to a quite disgusting song about Mr. Wenger to the tune of La Donna e Mobile. This song accuses Mr. Wenger of crimes against children and although this is both factually incorrect and disgusting, it does nothing to stop the majority of Manchester United fans from gleefully joining in. What makes this even more unpalatable is the fact that this has been going on for more than ten years without any action being taken by Manchester United FC, the Football Association, the Police or any of the broadcasters who screen the matches. I find this ambivalence towards abuse and defamation, simply appalling and indicative of a certain acceptance or tolerance on your part.

I do not need to remind you that abuse, defamation or threatening behaviour at football matches should lead to ejection from the ground and possible legal action. I need only point out the decisive and admirable action undertaken by Hampshire Police when fans of a certain London club subjected Sol Campbell to a disgusting mixture of racist and homophobic abuse in September 2008. In addition to this, I have been surprised to find your organisation so active in stamping out songs about the Munich Air Disaster and so quick to condemn the recent behaviour of fans at the West Ham-Millwall League Cup tie but so inactive in dealing with fans of Manchester United abusing Mr. Wenger on a continual basis.

I am fully aware of the fact that the mindless minority can sully the reputation of a football club and their fans but in the case I am pointing out to you, there seems to be more than a minority of fans joining in the song. I realise that small steps have been made by Manchester United to remind fans that singing this song is not acceptable, but I feel that not enough is being done by them or you to stamp this out permanently.

I look forward to hearing your views on how to handle this matter and thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Stuart May