Zorya Luhansk’s chief executive has described Manchester as a “dirty city” where “men kiss in the street” after last week’s Europa League defeat to Manchester United.
Sergei Rafailov saw the Ukrainian side lose 1-0 to United at Old Trafford after a goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He was quoted by BBC North West Tonight as saying: “Manchester is a dirty city, full of drunks and men kissing in the street” .
Rafailov has since elaborated on the comments on Zorya’s website. “When we were in England we were only in Manchester and I did not like the city,” he said. “It was very dirty. Near the hotel, which was, incidentally, in the city centre, there were homeless people sleeping on the pavement at night.
“I went out for a walk in the evening and went a little further from the centre. It was even worse there. Masses of drunk people. It was bizarre for me to see men walking down the street and kissing. I did not like it.”
United play Zorya again on 8 December.
