Manchester City order closure of groundsman's Facebook site after attack on Manchester United on eve of derby

Ged Coyne, employed by City as a groundsman for the past 15 years, posted foul-mouthed insults, none of which can be repeated by this newspaper, directed at Sir Alex Ferguson and former United defender Gary Neville, as well as referring to United as “scum”.

With Greater Manchester Police earlier this week advising City captain Carlos Tévez to avoid potentially inflaming tensions between rival sets of supporters by repeating the incendiary comments that have preceded recent fixtures against United, his former club, senior figures at City moved swiftly to close Coyne’s offending Facebook page after being informed of the content.

Coyne is understood to have closed his site on Thursday afternoon after being contacted by a club official, who reminded him of his responsibilities as an employee. A City spokesperson said: "The member of staff in question regrets posting the material and removed it immediately."

Despite City’s actions in seeking the removal of the Facebook page, Coyne’s comments had allegedly already been disseminated on to various fans’ forums, prompting a predictably angry response on United supporters’ sites.

The embarrassment comes after City provided all employees, including players and coaching staff, with guidance on the use of social networking sites, including Facebook and Twitter.

Recent episodes of players from rival clubs sparking negative headlines with online comments, most notably Ryan Babel’s posting of referee Howard Webb in a United shirt following Liverpool’s FA Cup defeat at Old Trafford last month, have coincided with City’s decision to warn staff of the ramifications of unguarded and ill-judged comments.

The build-up to the derby has been relatively low-key in comparison to recent fixtures between the two clubs.

Last season, the police and the Football Association contacted the two clubs to call for more measured pre-match comments following verbal hostilities between Tévez and Neville prior to the Carling Cup semi-final between the teams in January 2010.

Tévez labelled Neville a “moron” and a “boot-licker” after his former United team-mate voiced his support of Ferguson’s decision not to sign the Argentine on a permanent basis prior to his move to City in July 2009.

A party at Manchester’s Walkabout Bar aimed at raising funds for the Christie Hospital in Manchester, arranged by former United defender David May, has been cancelled, however, because of fears of trouble after the ‘United Nights’ evening was billed as a celebration of City’s 35-year trophy drought.

May, a boyhood City fan, said: “It was never a party to celebrate City’s 35 years without winning any silverware. That mention was just a bit of banter. It’s disappointing because the majority of the proceeds were going to Christie Hospital and the United Foundation.

"My biggest gripe is that the charity won’t benefit now and people have jumped on the bandwagon and said I hate City, which is totally wrong.”

Meanwhile, United midfielder Darren Fletcher is Ferguson’s main injury doubt for Saturday’s fixture. Fletcher was forced to withdraw from Scotland’s friendly against Northern Ireland on Wednesday because of an ankle injury.