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Wednesday, 30 January 2008, 18:22 GMT

Munich disaster poster vandalised

Munich air disaster memorial poster (photo courtesy of MEN Syndication) A memorial poster at Old Trafford to mark the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster has been vandalised with paint bombs.

The billboard poster features an image of the 1958 Manchester United team which lost eight players in the crash.

A Manchester United spokesman condemned the attack and said the paint had now been removed and the poster restored.

The poster has been criticised by some fans for including the logo of the club's shirt sponsors.

The US-based global insurance company AIG's logo is on the bottom right-hand corner of the poster.

A total of 23 people died in the air disaster on 6 February 1958, including players, officials and journalists.

Minute's silence

The plane, carrying Matt Busby's team, crashed on the way back from a European Cup tie at Red Star Belgrade, killing star players Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Billy Whelan and Tommy Taylor.

A minute's silence is to be held before England's game with Switzerland at Wembley on 6 February to mark the 50th anniversary of the tragedy.

Another minute's silence is due to be held a few days later when Manchester City plays Manchester United in a derby match on 10 February.

City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has written to club's fans asking them to be respectful of commemorations planned for the anniversary of the disaster.

Former City keeper Frank Swift also died in the accident.

United are to wear a special replica of their 1958 kit on the day, devoid of the players' names or shirt numbers on the back, while City's kit will incorporate a black ribbon with their sponsor's branding removed.

United are also setting up a permanent exhibition in the South Stand tunnel about the Munich crash.




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