A glass sculpture and medals have been stolen from a memorial honoring the 23 people killed in the Munich air disaster, BBC Sport reported. According to Munich Police speaking to German media, the glass display case at Manchesterplatz was smashed with a stone between 08:00 and 13:00 local time on Monday, 26 October.
Items taken from the display case included a glass sculpture originally presented to Munich's former mayor, Dieter Reiter, according to Mark Salzmann, chairman of Red Docs Munich, a Bayern Munich supporters' group that helps care for the memorial. Salzmann told outlets that his mother discovered the damage while driving past.
The Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation (MMMF) expressed deep sadness over the incident. Ifty Ahmed, chair of the foundation, told BBC News that the theft caused emotional harm to families and that the perpetrators did not understand the damage they had caused. Ahmed noted that it remained unclear exactly how many medals were missing.
According to the foundation, Manchester United offered to pay for repairs, but the foundation chose to cover the costs itself, and the broken glass was replaced on the same day. Ahmed also stated that supporters of Liverpool, Manchester City, and Leeds sent messages of support, while Salzmann noted that the messages showed the importance of the memorial and that the connection between Manchester and Munich would endure.
Background
According to BBC Sport, the Munich air disaster occurred on 6 February 1958 when a plane crashed on take-off after refuelling on its return from a European Cup match in Belgrade. The tragedy claimed 23 lives, including eight Manchester United players.
Sources note that a memorial stone was installed at the site in 2004, followed by a display case added in 2020 and officially inaugurated in 2023. The Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation stated that about 1,500 people from around the world attended the annual remembrance service at Manchesterplatz in February.
Why it matters
For sports enthusiasts and communities around the world, historical memorials serve as vital spaces for collective remembrance and solace. Incidents of vandalism and theft at such sites affect the families of those lost and highlight the shared bonds of sportsmanship and empathy across different cities and clubs, as demonstrated by the messages of support sent from rival football fan bases.