Having been subjected to some unsavoury abuse during the reverse fixture early this season, Mido has called on good sense and good taste to prevail when Middlesbrough travel to St James’ Park tomorrow. Chants about “bombs” – among other things – were directed at the Egypt forward by a section of Newcastle United supporters last August and both clubs are eager to avoid any repetition.
Mido, 24, is expected to make his eighth league start for Middlesbrough, having recently recovered from a debilitating groin injury. “Hopefully we won’t hear the same chants again because it is just silly and should absolutely be kept out of everyday life and that includes football,” he said. “I hope we don’t hear it again but it’s not only about me, it’s about everyone. It is terrible when you hear people making chants about race, colour, religion or whatever.
“I don’t know what the disciplinary situation was the first time it happened, I just hope that if we do hear it again that the Football Association takes the right decisions.”
Gareth Southgate, the Middlesbrough manager, has conceded that Afonso Alves, the £12 million signing from Heerenveen, is unlikely to play at Newcastle. AZ Alkmaar, who believed they had an agreement for the forward, have taken their case to Fifa.