Manchester United shirts have been banned in Malaysia after the red devil crest was labelled “dangerous and un-Islamic”.

Thousands of fans have reacted angrily to the decision by Muslim clerics – with some accusing them of supporting Premier League arch-rivals Liverpool.

Despite the Old Trafford side having an estimated 81 million followers in Asia, one senior cleric said: “You are only promoting the devil.”

“This is very dangerous. As a Muslim we should not worship the symbols of other religions or the devils,” another added.

“It will erode our belief in Islam. There is no reason why we as Muslims should wear such jerseys, either for sports or fashion reasons.”

But fans are now fighting back, posting messages on Twitterand Facebook to show their disapproval.

“Maybe the religious leaders are just fans of Liverpool?” quipped one supporter on Twitter.

“Why has this become an issue after Manchester United has won the title for 11 times? They haven’t been watching the matches all this while?” said fan Sharifah Shahidah.

“What am I gonna do with all my Man Utd jerseys? And my sons’ jerseys?” said another.

“Should I cover the emblem with a picture of flower?”

Manchester United Fan Club Malaysia, which has about 7,000 members, refused to comment.

Also off-limits are the shirts of teams including Brazil, Portugal, Barcelona and Serbia, all of which carry an image of the Christian crucifix in their team emblems.

Malaysia is a generally moderate Islamic country, but conservative clerics have issued controversial edicts in the past, including a ban on the ancient practice of yoga, which is criticised for including Hindu elements.

News item courtesy of www.skynews.com