New York City FC fans “outraged” as Frank Lampard stays at Manchester City

After it was revealed that Frank Lampard will not be joining New York City FC until the end of the current Premier League season, fans of Major League Soccer’s newest franchise have spoken out about the decision from City Football Group to keep Lampard at their sister club Manchester City.

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Lampard, 36, was supposed to be linking up with NYC FC on January 1 after much fanfare following his unveiling as a Designated Player for Jason Kreis’ side last summer.

However, after securing a short-term loan deal to Man City to stay fit ahead of New York’s inaugural MLS season in 2015, Lampard has excelled by scoring six goals in 17 appearances so far this season. That has prompted City’s boss Manuel Pellegrini to request an extension to Lampard’s stay at the Etihad Stadium, and that has been granted as he will not join up with NYCFC until the summer.

In a statement from NYCFC fans group the Third Rail, they pulled no punches in “denouncing” the decision to keep Lampard in England.

“Many fans, including our members, decided to support the team, committed to season tickets, and bought merchandise under the impression that Frank Lampard would be playing for New York City Football Club, not Manchester City. Many of those fans are rightly outraged by this decision, and we support any course of action they take to voice their discontent over this decision. We reject out of hand any suggestion that NYCFC is in any way secondary to Manchester City FC, regardless of the source, and are disappointed that City Football Group would give such an appearance.”

What do you think? Does this decision undermine MLS and New York City FC? Or are the City Football Group well within their rights to keep Lampard at Man City?

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