PAUL INCE does NOT believe the Manchester United fans' controversial chant about Romelu Lukaku's todger is racist.

Equality campaigners Kick It Out described the song as "offensive and discriminatory" and warned those caught singing it will be punished.

5 Manchester United fans have been warned over their Romelu Lukaku chant Credit: PA:Press Association

5 Former United midfielder Paul Ince does not believe the chant is racist Credit: PA:Empics Sport

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However, United fans have vowed to keep singing it.

And former United midfielder Ince says he would "laugh it off" if he was in Lukaku's shoes.

The 'Guv'nor', who made 281 appearances for the club, said: "I don’t think the chant is racist.

"I honestly think it’s a group of fans that have got carried away and did not expect the backlash they have got. I’d say it’s just a bit of fun, that’s got out of control now.

"For a player to hear that sung about themselves, I do think they’d think it was amusing, a bit of a laugh.

"If this chant was being sang at me when I was playing, I would just laugh it off and that would be it.

"Fans have sung chants for years and far worse than that in my time, though I suppose a lot of them would have never been heard because of social media.

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5 Lukaku celebrates scoring in the 4-0 win over Everton on Sunday Credit: AFP

5 Lukaku has seven goals in seven games for United since his £75m move Credit: Getty Images

"I don’t think Romelu Lukaku would say it was racist."

Ilford-born Ince was vilified by West Ham fans for his decision to leave for United in 1989.

And some Old Trafford supporters gave him stick when he returned from a stint at Inter Milan to sign for rivals Liverpool.

Ince understands that, while an individual player may be able to take the flak, other people may still be offended - and that is the problem.

He added: "It’s not just about what he feels about it. It’s also about how other people in the stadium might feel hearing that, children, elderly people and families.

"It’s not something you should be singing anyway. Whether it’s racist or not – which I think is a massive grey area – from a club point of view, fans shouldn’t be singing that.

5 Ince spent six years at Old Trafford as a United player Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

"Would you want your kid coming home knowing those words? I think those singing it need to have a think about it from that point of view.

"It’s something that needs to be addressed and nipped in the bud quickly, whether you think it’s racist or not. Which I’m just not sure it is.

"I’m not sure what the need is to sing about a players’ penis is at all, the rest of the song is about him and that’s fine.

"One thing’s for sure, that if the club disagrees with it, Man United won’t waste time in banning people. "They’ll be gone, but the problem they’ll face is if 5,000 fans are belting it out.

"Hopefully it will be addressed sooner rather than later now it has been brought into the public eye."

* Paul Ince was speaking to Paddy Power News