Man United accused of 'climate vandalism' with ten minute flight to Leicester

Dale Vince, chairman of Forest Green Rovers - the most eco-friendly club in world football - joined talkSPORT to offer his reaction to the news, accusing the Red Devils of 'an egregious act' and 'wanton climate vandalism'.

United made the decision to fly the team to Leicester for the King Power Stadium clash on Saturday, justifying their choice in a statement.

United stated that they chose to fly ten minutes from Manchester Airport to East Midlands Airport due to traffic on the M6, and responded to criticism by listing the club's initiatives they have in place in an effort to combat climate change.

A policy to purchase certified green electricity for all club buildings and facilities.

Achieved the Carbon Trust Standard certification for a sixth consecutive year in 2020.

Achieved 12 consecutive years of energy and carbon reductions through the Manchester United Energy & Carbon Reduction Programme.

Have reduced annual carbon emissions by over 2,700 tonnes since 2008.

However, eco-warriors hit out at United for practically undoing all their hard to help the planet by using a jet to make the short trip to Leicester.

Air travel is one of the highest contributors to the worldwide issue, with reported figures that aviation is now responsible for roughly 2% of all global carbon emissions.

And League Two side Forest Green's chairman Vince, football's stand out eco friendly football club, was unforgiving when it came to discussing United's flight.

He says the biggest football club in the world should set a better example.

"It was just shocking to me, 100 miles is nothing," he told White and Jordan on talkSPORT.

"Football gets a lot of criticism particularly around the environment. It's widely said football can't go properly green due to travel to international games and fan travel.

"Here you've got a domestic game and a very short distance, and it's the most terrible thing to do to chose to fly instead of drive.

"If the M6 was closed, we have other roads, don't we? There are other ways around it. And I don't think this was spare of the moment stuff, I don't think that could be done that quickly.

"To fly 100 miles is an egregious act. It's wanton climate vandalism.

"It's a big club in a sport that has a role in basically persuading people what they need to do to fight the climate crisis. and this is a terrible example to be setting

"Every organisation has a responsibility to lower their carbon foot print, that's a fact.

"But what's unique about football clubs, especially the size of Man United, is that they have a platform. They have millions of followers and people look up the club.

"They take their life cues from them, so it's a terrible thing to do".

Given COP26 - the United Nations Climate Change Conference that runs from October 31 to November 12 - is fast approaching and organisations are being put under increasing pressure to lower their carbon foot print, it begs that question of whether football clubs are doing enough to help the environment.

There has been an effort in the footballing world towards going greener, an example being Daniel Levy's Tottenham hosting the world's first major zero net carbon match.

Spurs fans were encouraged to either cycle or use public transport to get to the game, and the club provided plant-based food options at its stalls and used green energy to power the match.

But whilst United have made an effort previously to be more sustainable, the choice to use a plane to make such a short journey shows that the commitment from them, and probably other football clubs, isn't there just yet.