Neither of Manchester's two big football clubs have plans to alter their club badges despite criticism that the emblems of a ship both include may celebrate slavery.
The famous badges of both United and City contain images of ships which is thought to be an homage to the ship seen on the city of Manchester's official coat of arms.
But a comment piece in The Guardian questioned whether the ships were 'an emblem of a crime against humanity', prompting some calls for the emblems to be removed.
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It's a move that is being resisted by both clubs and Manchester City Council, with a town hall leader saying that while the city is working to reflect the city's connections to the slave trade it does not seek 'the eradication of the city's past'.
Both clubs have used the ship emblem on their crests after they adopted 'Manchester' in their titles.
In 2018 Manchester City changed its club badge following a consultation with fans, ditching a version which had been used from 1997 which included an eagle and three stars.
Both versions included a ship, although it was more prominent in the new version, and three stripes, a nod to the city of Manchester coat of arms which features three stripes to represent the three rivers of the city, the Irwell, the Irk and the Medlock, as well as a ship.
Guardian columnist, and City supporter, Simon Hattenstone wrote: "The ship has nothing to do with football and everything to do with the business from which Manchester made its money. The product of slavery became so subtly embedded in our culture that we celebrated it in our club badges even without realising it.."
But the opinion has been criticised, including by Blackley and Broughton MP Graham Stringer who told the M.E.N: "As far as I'm aware the Manchester coat of arms represents free trade and was associated with Manchester before the Manchester Ship Canal was built."
He branded the criticism as 'ridiculous and bizarre' and 'an attempt to rewrite history'.
Officials at City and United have noted the criticism of their badges but declined to comment when approached by the M.E.N. However, it is understood neither club plans to change their current badge designs.
Manchester's coat of arms was granted to the city in 1842. It shows a red and gold shield with an image of a ship, supported by an antelope and a lion and crowned by a globe covered in bees.
Manchester Ship Canal was opened in 1894, and the improved transport of goods enabled Manchester to rival Liverpool whose success was built on the slave trade.
Coun Luthfur Rahman, deputy leader of Manchester City Council, said: "We're an industrious, international, multicultural city and have long been so. A place that is fiercely proud both of our ambition and innovation, as well as our diversity and the contribution to city life made by the many different communities that call Manchester home.
"Like many cities, Manchester's past is a complex mix of stories, lives, and voices and we're in the middle of a long-term project that began in 2020 to highlight and reflect on aspects of the city's past, including the city's black history and connections to the slave trade.
"Working alongside Manchester Histories, our universities, and other partners, including local communities, our focus is on education and learning rather than eradication of the city's past.
"We're fully committed to making sure the city's story, and the stories old and new of the people who have made Manchester are told, are heard, and are learned from."
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