MAN UTD have had to address concerns about the origin of the club's iconic badge.

The football club are having to justify the origins of their club badge as woke campaigners question its historic links.

What does the Man Utd badge mean?

The Man Utd club badge is iconic and one of the most recognisable in world football.

Over the course of the history of the club, the badge has evolved since its original form.

The most recent version of the emblem sees a shield with a red devil holding a pitchfork with a three-mast ship above it.

Originally, the clubs crest had three diagonal stripes, a globe and a ship, surrounded by a motto "Concilio et Labore".

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This loosely translates to "by wisdom and effort" and featured on the Manchester coat of arms and was used by the football club when it was first formed.

More recently, the badge shows a red devil which is a nod to the club's nickname, first coined by legendary manager Matt Busby in the 1960s.

It is suggested he used it to try and inspire the players to be aggressive and fearless on the pitch.

Originally, the red devil design was drawn by cartoonist and ex-player Dennis Law.

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What does the ship on Man Utd badge mean?

Above that, appears a three-mast ship, representing the historic connection between Manchester and the Irish Sea, while also referring the city's industrial prowess.

As is also shown on the city's coat of arms, it represents its global trading power during the industrial revolution.

While recently some woke campaigners have suggested it has links to a darker past of slavery, historians have dismissed such claims.

Local Labour MP Graham Stringer said the “crazy” claim tarnished the northern city’s proud history of anti-discrimination.

He added: “Manchester had nothing to do with the slave trade.

“People from the city at the time of the US Civil War in 1861 ­protested against slavery.

“This is one of the craziest campaigns I have ever seen.”

What does the Man City badge mean?

Manchester City's club badge contains a boat which is a reference to the Manchester Ship Canal, which opened in 1894, the same year Ardwick FC changed its name to Manchester City.

The ship canal was one of the biggest feats of engineering in the world at the time and the city of Manchester was very proud of it, hence its inclusion on the Manchester City badge.

It also incorporates the red rose of Lancaster which symbolises the county of Lancashire.

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The three blue lines on the shield represent the city's three rivers; the Irwell, the Irk and the Medlock.

Much like their local city rivals, their badge has changed over the years, with the most recent version being introduced as recently as 2015.

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