Derby day at the Etihad Stadium is always electric, but one staff member managed to stir up controversy before the first whistle even blew.
A Manchester City bar worker turned up for his shift sporting a Manchester United shirt, and fans were quick to notice.
Fans Spot the Mistake
Supporters in the stands didn’t take kindly to seeing a rival shirt behind the bar.
A fan snapped a picture of the worker wearing a United away jersey from the 2018-19 season while pouring a pint and shared it on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Absolute joke @ManCity – letting one of the bar staff in block 315 wear a United shirt on Derby Day #mcfc,” the post read.
Club Acts Quickly
Manchester City’s officials were alerted almost immediately.
The club responded publicly on social media, confirming that the worker had been removed from their position.
“@Mataniels @ManCity Thank you for making us aware of this.
We can confirm that this individual has now been removed from their position,” the club replied.
A Somber Tribute Overshadows Controversy
The shirt incident was quickly overshadowed by far more serious news.
Manchester City fans and players were mourning the passing of Ricky Hatton, the British boxing legend and lifelong City supporter, who was tragically found dead at his home near Manchester at just 46.
Before kick-off, the stadium observed a heartfelt tribute.
City midfielder Phil Foden spoke to Sky Sports about the loss:
“My heart goes out to his family at this time.
Obviously to hear the news before a big game is devastating, and I’m sure he would’ve been here supporting us.
Today is for him, and we’re going to try to get the win and do the best we can for him. We’ve got to use it as motivation.”
Teams and Fans Unite in Memory
As the players took to the pitch, the two Manchester clubs came together to honor Hatton’s legacy.
The Etihad erupted in applause, with Pep Guardiola visibly emotional on the touchline.
For a moment, football rivalries were set aside, and the memory of a beloved sportsman united everyone in the stadium.