Manchester City has reprinted four flags stolen from supporters in Lisbon ahead of the Sporting game. Manchester City has stepped in to assist some supporters who became disoriented in Lisbon. Pep Guardiola's team thrashed Sporting 5-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash last month, but while the 2500 Blues in the stadium enjoyed the game, some had flags stolen on their way to the stadium by opposition fans.
The club contacted Kevin Parker and the Official Supporters' Club to see what could be done about the missing flags, and after working with any supporters who came forward, replacements were sourced and printed in time for the game with Sporting on Wednesday evening. As an added bonus, club ambassador Paul Dickov presented two fans who were able to attend the game with their new flags prior to kickoff.
Russ Cowper, 56, of Cheadle, has been a Blues fan for as long as he can remember, and the Jose Alvalade Stadium is one of more than 100 venues he has visited to watch the team. He was sitting outside a bar when he pulled out his new flag to show a friend and saw it quickly swiped by a group of balaclava-clad lads who ran past and swiped it before singing Sporting songs and disappearing.
"It was its first trip," Russ explained. "My flag features Portugal because my best friend lives in Portugal and I'm trying to convert all the locals to be City fans so I take over shirts. "I gave them the flag because we stayed with my friend before taking the train to Lisbon, and we had the flag out the night before and were all taking pictures with it. They were also disappointed because it reflected poorly on them, as the Portuguese are a proud people."
Colin Newton, 47, of Ashton-under-Lyne, has been a City fan since the 1990s. He was also about to unveil a new flag honoring "the biggest small team in the world," as part of a group of 14 who had traveled over for the game, when things went wrong at the stadium.
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