A major breach of footballing etiquette has caused a stir at the Etihad Stadium, where a construction worker was unceremoniously dismissed from Manchester City's £300 million expansion project. The reason? Brazenly wearing the colours of the club's arch-rivals, Manchester United.
The incident, which has since gone viral on social media, saw the worker photographed high up on the stadium scaffolding, with the unmistakable red of a United shirt clearly visible underneath his high-vis jacket. For a club like City, where the rivalry with United is deeply ingrained in its identity, this was an unforgivable faux pas.
A Costly Fashion Choice
The worker was reportedly immediately 'escorted' from the premises after the image began circulating. A source close to the project confirmed the swift action, stating the individual's attire was completely unacceptable on a site of such immense importance to the club and its fanbase. The £300m project aims to add over 7,000 seats to the North Stand, creating a fan-focused 'entertainment venue'.
The image has ignited a firestorm of reactions online. While many City fans expressed outrage and supported the zero-tolerance decision, other football supporters saw the funny side, labelling it a brilliant wind-up.
History of Stadium Antics
This is not the first time a worker's choice of football shirt has caused controversy on a major construction site. Notably, during the building of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a Geordie steelworker was famously ordered to remove his Newcastle United shirt while working. It appears on these hallowed grounds, club colours are a serious matter of health, safety, and protocol.
The incident highlights the intense passion of the Manchester football divide, a rivalry where even the builders aren't immune from the partisan politics of the beautiful game.
