Any Manchester United fan of a certain age – or indeed any fan who has done the slightest bit of research on the club’s past – will know about the importance of Matt Busby.
Despite spending the bulk of his playing career with Liverpool and Manchester City, the Scot spent more than two decades in charge at Old Trafford and delivered the club its first European Cup victory in 1968.
So when reports emerged that their former manager’s plaque had been removed from the directors’ box at United’s home ground, questions were asked.
https://twitter.com/UtdBeforeFergie/status/772707073939374080
If you're not bothered by reports re Sir Matt Busby then it's simple -You're inertia is 'cos you aren't really a Manchester United supporter
— Annemarie Dray (@AnnemarieDray) September 5, 2016
Am @ManUtd fan but typical of club with foreign owners to have no sense of history,loyalty & appreciation removing Busby plaque from seat.☹️
— Gordon Burns (@mrgordonburns) September 5, 2016
However, the backlash may have been a little premature, as it appears as though the Busby family are satisfied with the new seats with which they have been provided and have few (if any complaints) about the new situation.
A poster in the Manchester United fan forum RedCafe has gone into further detail, revealing that the number of eligible Busby family members is greater than the number of available seats in the box, so alternative seats have been provided.
Re: The Busby story which has been run by MEN, DM etc. Caf Poster setting the record straight on it. pic.twitter.com/ijoj9tfD8w
— RedCafe.net (@red_cafe) September 5, 2016
A photograph of the Busby Family plaque (not a specific Matt Busby plaque, as originally reported) has since circulated, along with the additional claims from the RedCafe poster.
it does says Busby Family, not Sir Matt pic.twitter.com/8Ee33VYclw
— Matthew (@eMKayeN) September 5, 2016
And some United fans have hit out at those taking umbrage to the changes made by the club, suggesting in no uncertain terms where any critics can go.
https://twitter.com/thedevilstweets/status/772731069103833088
Others, meanwhile, have poked fun at the instant outrage displayed by some without knowledge of the full story.
Hearing Jose Mourinho personally bulldozed the statue of Sir Matt Busby this weekend. Shocking if true.
— Lauren 🐝 (@fateiskind) September 5, 2016
Busby still has a statue outside Old Trafford, of course, while one of the streets leading up to the ground was renamed Sir Matt Busby Way in 1993.
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