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'fans meant well'

Manchester United star Romelu Lukaku urges supporters to show respect and ‘move on together’ as he speaks out on racist chant row

Frontman joins debate after Kick It Out group demands action over chant that rhymes with the line 'our Belgium scoring genius'

ROMELU LUKAKU has spoken out over the 'racist song' row - insisting Manchester United fans "mean well" but must show respect.

Anti-racism campaigners Kick It Out demanded action from Old Trafford chiefs, claiming crude references to Lukaku's manhood in a terrace chant re-enforce racial stereotypes.

 Romelu Lukaku has praised the backing from fans but urged them to show respect
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Romelu Lukaku has praised the backing from fans but urged them to show respectCredit: Rex Features
 Romelu Lukaku bagged a goal against his old club Everton to continue his fine start at Man Utd following his £75m summer move
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Romelu Lukaku bagged a goal against his old club Everton to continue his fine start at Man Utd following his £75m summer moveCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Now £75million summer buy Lukaku has himself responded to the debate.

The former Everton striker said: "Great backing since I joined United. Fans have meant well with their songs but let’s move on together. #RespectEachOther."

The song's controversial words rhyme with its second line of: "our Belgium scoring genius".

And it is thought United stewards were told to stop any supporters heard singing it in Wednesday's 4-1 Carabao Cup third-round defeat of Burton Albion.

A Kick It Out spokesman told The Times: "The lyrics used in the chant are offensive and discriminatory.

"Racist stereotypes are never acceptable in football or wider society, irrespective off any intention to show support for a player.

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 Romelu Lukaku has let his goals do the talking but has now commented on the row over a controversial chant
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Romelu Lukaku has let his goals do the talking but has now commented on the row over a controversial chantCredit: Getty Images - Getty
 Romelu Lukaku has opened his Man Utd career with five goals in his opening five Premier League games
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Romelu Lukaku has opened his Man Utd career with five goals in his opening five Premier League gamesCredit: Rex Features

"We have contacted Manchester United regarding the issue and will be working closely with them and the FA to ensure that it is addressed swiftly.

"If we receive any reporters relating to the discriminatory chant, those will be passed on to the governing body and the perpetrators can expect to face punishment."

The chant surfaced in United's 3-0 Champions League group win over Basel last week.

But former United midfielder Paul Ince has laughed it off as fans getting "carried away" with "a bit of fun".

 Romelu Lukaku is already popular with Old Trafford fans
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Romelu Lukaku is already popular with Old Trafford fansCredit: Rex Features

He said: “I don’t think the chant is racist.

“I honestly think it’s a group of fans that have got carried away and did not expect the backlash they have got. I’d say it’s just a bit of fun, that’s got out of control now.

“For a player to hear that sung about themselves, I do think they’d think it was amusing, a bit of a laugh.

“If this chant was being sang at me when I was playing, I would just laugh it off and that would be it.

“Fans have sung chants for years and far worse than that in my time, though I suppose a lot of them would have never been heard because of social media."



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