Manchester City have been branded "despicable" and accused of gross insensitivity after printing an article in their official programme referring to Manchester United players as "Munichs".
Survivors of the 1958 Munich air disaster and relatives of the 23 people who died reacted with dismay last night to a full-page feature, credited to the "City Boys", in which nominations were made for an alternative end-of-year award ceremony at Maine Road.
For the fans' Lennon/McCartney Award for Best Song, the runner-up was "Same old Munichs, always cheating".
"I just cannot imagine that anyone at City would allow such a thing to happen," said Bill Foulkes, who lost eight of his team-mates that fateful February night. "I know people at City, good people, and I'm sure they will feel just as I do.
"For it to be in the club programme is beyond belief. As far as I am concerned, whoever has written this article needs to see someone; he needs help. He's certainly no football fan, whoever he is."
The article, written by David Chidlow, appeared in City's programme for their St Stephen's Day encounter with Derby County.
Irene Beevers, 60, whose brother, the England international David Pegg, died in the disaster at the age of 22, still lives in his home town of Doncaster along with their mother Jessie, 84. "Leeds United's fans are notorious for gloating about what happened but you would think there would be more sympathy in Manchester, especially because Frank Swift (one of City's all-time greats) was among those who died," she said.
"It's sick. For City to have this in their official programme is despicable. They should be ashamed of themselves. These people are sad individuals and I feel sorry for them. Why do they still do it after all this time?"
United are known to be furious with their neighbours and City's directors have demanded an explanation from the programme's editor Mike Beddow.
"The programme was not edited properly and this article went into print erroneously. It is the last thing we would want to be associated with," said City's chairman David Bernstein.
"It was a mistake and we are sorry for any offence that was caused. Among other things, we will never forget that Frank Swift was killed in the disaster." City are considering carrying an apology in their next club magazine. "We give the fans their own page in the match programme and the club magazine but they should be edited. Unfortunately this one line, and it was only one line, was missed by somebody," said the club's press officer Chris Bird.
Joe Royle moved last night to halt City's slide towards the Premiership's relegation zone by agreeing a sterling £3.2 m fee with Leeds for Darren Huckerby.
Huckerby will travel to Maine Road this morning for talks with Royle after 18 months at Elland Road which have seen him make only 12 first-team starts since signing from Coventry for £4.5m.
The deal hinges on whether Huckerby can agree personal terms. If everything goes well, he will have registered by noon today, allowing him to make his debut against Charlton at Maine Road tomorrow.
Bradford City have signed Eoin Jess on a three-month loan from Aberdeen with a view to a permanent signing in summer. The 30-year-old forward will cost £300,000 if City stay in the Premiership and a lower fee if relegated.
