A number of Manchester United fans have sparked controversy by reportedly planning to take Eric Cantona masks and flags to Selhurst Park for their clash against Crystal Palace.

Back in 1995, the Frenchman was banned for nine months and fined £20,000 for unleashing a kung-fu kick on Palace supporter Matthew Simmons during a match at Selhurst Park.

Three months after the incident, a 35-year-old Palace fan Paul Nixon died as a result of a fight that broke out at a pub near to Villa Park ahead of his side's FA Cup semi-final against United.

The Stretford End Flags Twitter page wrote: "Lots of Cantona masks and flags will be taken to Palace on Saturday by #mufc fans. Worryingly, some masks look nothing like Eric!

"Getting abuse off Palace fans who seem to think that singing Cantona's name is disrespectful to a Palace fan who was killed before FA Semi. According to Palace fans, we should never sing Cantona's name again as it is insulting to them."

Palace are currently 15th in the Premier League table, while United reside in seventh.