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Manchester City deny accusations of inappropriate chant

Liverpool have chosen not to comment on the video but Sean Cox's brother says he is "disgusted" by the song

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Manchester City have denied accusations their players celebrated winning the Premier League with a chant relating to Liverpool fan Sean Cox or the Hillsborough tragedy.

Manchester City have denied accusations their players celebrated winning the Premier League with a chant relating to Liverpool fan Sean Cox or the Hillsborough tragedy.

A video emerged on social media on Tuesday which appeared to show City players and staff singing a distasteful version of Liverpool's 'Allez, Allez, Allez' song as they travelled on a plane following Sunday's victory at Brighton which clinched the title.

The song, which City fans had changed the lyrics to, makes reference to Liverpool fans "crying in the stands" and being "battered on the streets" at last year's Champions League final in Kiev, which Liverpool lost 3-1 to Real Madrid. It also contains the lyric "victims of it all".

Liverpool fan Cox was attacked by Roma supporters ahead of their Champions League semi-final at Anfield.

A Manchester City statement insisted the song in question has been a regular chant during the 2018-19 season and refers to the 2018 UEFA Champions League final in Kiev.

During the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion at Etihad Stadium on January 31, 2018 in Manchester, England.
Image: Manchester City have denied accusations

"Any suggestion that the lyrics relate to Sean Cox or the Hillsborough tragedy is entirely without foundation," the statement added.

Reports also suggested the song referred to City captain Vincent Kompany injuring Mohamed Salah earlier in the season.

Liverpool have chosen not to comment on the video but Sean Cox's brother, Martin Cox, has said he is "disgusted" by the song and says it reminds him of his brother's attack.

"If I'm honest I'm disgusted," he told Radio City.

"Singing and chanting those words, it's like it gives the impression that it's okay for people to carry out attacks like that on people in the streets.

"It's a matter very close to our hearts and whether they say it's about Sean or not, the first thing I think about is Sean being attacked.

"It wasn't long ago that a Manchester City fan was attacked in Germany, so why they think it's okay to sing songs about people being attacked on the streets when one of their own was attacked not long ago, is very naive."

City's win over Brighton ensured they retained the title by a point from second-placed Liverpool.

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