Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has urged the FA Cup finalists to act after the scourge of 'Munich' chanting returned to sully his club's name.
Khaldoon, the public face of the Abu Dhabi group that have turned City into the world's richest football club, is understood to have been appalled to learn that a minority of fans have started singing songs referring to the 1958 Munich air disaster again.
City manager Roberto Mancini called for the chants to stop and said: 'I didn't hear it myself at Blackburn on Monday but what I do know is that we must have respect for what happened in the past. That is very important.'
Vocal minority: Certain Manchester City fans have restarted singing songs about the 1958 air disaster
It is understood the City board will take steps to try to eradicate the singing, which refers to the disaster that killed 23 members of a Manchester United party returning from a European Cup game 53 years ago. This will now be given added impetus by the fact that Khaldoon has raised the subject himself.
It is likely that City will print something in a forthcoming matchday programme and that senior players - such as FA Cup semi-final goalscorer Yaya Toure - will be asked to say something publicly. Toure is the player unfortunate enough to be the subject of the latest song, which goes: 'Who put the ball in the Munichs' net?'
City sources stressed that although some of the club's fans seem to see 'Munich' as an acceptable term of reference for United fans, they are determined to eradicate it.
Stop it now: Sportsmail on Wednesday
It is understood City will consider banning fans they feel are responsible, but they accept it is difficult to prove anything unless fans are seen making the horrendous 'airplane' gestures that have sometimes accompanied chants about the disaster.
City will hope that victory against West Ham at Eastlands on Sunday in the Barclays Premier League will focus attention back to football as Mancini's team look to make good their position in the fourth Champions League qualifying spot and build up momentum ahead of the FA Cup final against Stoke on May 14.
Mancini has confirmed that captain Carlos Tevez is back in training as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury, and that he has a good chance of being fit for the final.
Tevez recently spent two weeks in Milan receiving treatment. It had been thought the Argentine was seeing his country's team doctor but his manager revealed it had been a masseur.
Mancini said: 'He has been working with a masseur that he trusts and now he is working with him here. I understand that. I was a player, too.'
On the comeback trail: Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez
The Italian confirmed Tevez will return as captain if he plays at Wembley but also said he will need to sit down with the striker and talk about his future once the season is over.
The City boss is privately fearful that Tevez will look to quit Eastlands this summer while other senior officials at the club are convinced he will leave.
Asked if he thought Tevez's future would be influenced by Champions League qualification, Mancini said: 'No, I don't think so. For now it's more important to know when Carlos can play. We need to play the final and get in the Champions League. Then we will sit down and talk.'
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