A handful of Manchester City fans unfortunately brought shame on their club during their 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday evening.United midfielder Fred was struck by objects thrown by the home crowd as he prepared to take a corner.Footage posted on social media also appears to show a City supporter racially abusing the Brazil international.Man City, to their credit, released the following statement shortly after full-time: “Manchester City FC are aware of a video circulating on social media which appears to show a supporter making racial gestures during the second half of the match against Manchester United this evening.“Officials from the Club are working with Greater Manchester Police in order to help them identify any individuals concerned and assist with their enquiries.

“The Club are also working with GMP regarding an instance of objects being thrown onto the field of play.

“The Club operates a zero tolerance policy regarding discrimination of any kind, and anyone found guilty of racial abuse will be banned from the club for life.”

It needs to be said that these were the actions of a few mindless idiots. The vast majority of City fans inside the Etihad Stadium were there to support their team and it’s important not to tar them all with the same brush.

One video, posted to Twitter by Olympic gold medalist Samantha Quek, shows a mother taking her young son away from the group of City fans who were abusing Fred.

Watch it here…

(The original video has been taken down, but you can watch it towards the end of this video - keep an eye out on the right-hand side, next to the two stewards in orange in the crowd)

This is extremely sad to see.

To watch a mum forced to leave her seat with her child because of those “grown men” acting like complete morons around her is upsetting.

City can expect to be punished by the Football Association, while those found guilty of abusing Fred will almost certainly be handed lifetime bans by the club.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said of the ‘fan’ filmed allegedly racially abusing Fred: "He shouldn't be watching football again."

And nobody - surely - will disagree.

It’s time for football clubs and the police to take firm action against any individual found to have racially abused somebody at a match.

While those who threw objects at Fred also need to be dealt with.