Criticism levelled at Man City fans shows what is wrong with football fandom in this country

Football fans are a tribalistic bunch. We'll use anything as a stick with which to beat supporters of rival teams, including results, trophies, league standings, history and local bragging rights.

That's all pretty harmless, whereas the minority of 'fans' who turn to racism and other forms of discrimination are not. Both are huge issues in the game today, and are rightly now beginning to be recognised as such.

However, there is another trend on the rise which, while less serious, is nevertheless incredibly damaging to football fans, their communities and the wider working classes. Poverty shaming is fast becoming a go-to weapon in British football fan culture, and it has got to stop.

READ MORE: 'Man City fans have saved lives' - MCFC Fans Foodbank Support call for donations ahead of run-in

Britons are facing deeply worrying times. The cost of living in this country is rocketing to unprecedented levels, a knock-on effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and government tax hikes.

Energy bills are to increase by up to 54 per cent today, while broadband tariff prices, council taxes, national insurance contributions and VAT on eating and drinking out will also rise sharply. The cost of petrol has rocketed in recent months, as has the price of food in supermarkets.

Most of us are feeling the squeeze and are being forced to make sacrifices, football fans included. Given the current circumstances, it is thoroughly depressing to see largely working-class supporters stick to their tribalism and essentially take swipes at each other for being poor.

While it is of course a nationwide issue faced by all fanbases, Manchester City fans have recently come under fire for their hesitance in selling out their