Foden sidelined for Palace clash after Man Utd fans' disgusting chants about his mum

By Lewis Barnett 12 April, 2025 5 mins read 48 Views

God. Some days I wonder why I even bother covering football anymore. The beautiful game keeps getting uglier off the pitch.

Manchester City will face Crystal Palace today without Phil Foden, who's been knocked out by illness according to club sources. The timing couldn't be more brutal - coming just days after the poor lad had to endure those absolutely vile chants about his mother during the Manchester derby. I was at that match and honestly felt sick hearing it. Some "fans" have absolutely zero class.

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When did football become this toxic?

Back in 2018, I remember interviewing a veteran steward at Old Trafford who told me the rivalry was intense but still had boundaries. "Lines that wouldn't be crossed," he said. Well, those lines have been obliterated now.

I texted a contact at City this morning hoping for more details. His response: "Just a bug, nothing serious. But teh kid deserves a break from the spotlight after what happened."

The numbers don't lie

Let's be honest - Foden's been struggling this season. Ten goals and six assists in 40 appearances is well below what we've come to expect from him. My colleague Jake (who's been a City season ticket holder since before the money arrived) reckons it's partly down to positional changes and partly the pressure of being the hometown hero.

Pep's squad has looked... different this year. Less dominant. More vulnerable.

Remember when we just talked about actual football?

I spent $230 on tickets to take my nephew to see City earlier this season. He's a massive Foden fan - has the haircut and everything. Kid was buzzing to see his hero play. That's what this should be about.

Instead, we're discussing chants so disgusting I won't repeat them here.

What happens next?

The FA needs to step up. Seriously. I've watched them hand out pathetic fines for years while claiming to tackle discrimination and abuse. It's like trying to stop a flood with a paper towel.

Listen. This isn't just about Foden. Every player deserves basic respect, regardless of which team they play for.

Poor Phil. I hope he recovers quickly - both from whatever bug he's caught adn from the psychological impact of hearing thousands of people sing those things about his mother.

The bigger picture nobody wants to address

This is a developing story, and I'll update this piece as more information becomes available. But the real story here isn't just about one player missing one game.

It's about what we're willing to accept as "part of the game."

I feel like I'm watching football slowly eat itself sometimes. The tribalism has gone beyond rivalry into something much darker.

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