Sunderland chairman Ellis Short has been spotted wearing a badge depicting letters 'FTM', which reportedly represents the phrase 'F*** the Mags'.

The slur is believed to refer to arch rivals Newcastle United, who are known as the Magpies, and is regularly used by Sunderland fans as a jibe to their rival supporters.

Short was spotted wearing the small badge, which is in the shape of a Sunderland scarf, pinned to his suit jacket while showing President of Tanzania, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, around the club's facilities.

The editor of ALS (A Love Supreme) fanzine Martyn McFadden told the Daily Mail: "It's meant in a jovial way. Most clubs have a jibe aimed at the rivals and Newcastle have SMB (Sad Mackem B******s) which they use against us.

"It isn't meant to be taken literally and people who wear it don't mean they want to fight Newcastle. It's used as a way of saying Newcastle's irrelevant. I think it's cool that Ellis Short is embracing Sunderland pop culture."

The American businessman is said to have bought six badges from the fanzine's shop.