John Stiles condemned thieves who stole from the memorial to the players who died in the disaster. German police are believed to be investigating the theft in Munich.

The son of Manchester United legend Nobby Stiles condemned the theft of valuable items from a memorial to the Munich Air Disaster today.

The items including medals were taken from a display case at Manchesterplatz in Munich, where the plane crashed on take-off on 6 February 1958 after refuelling on its return from a European Cup match in Belgrade.

Munich Police told German media the glass was smashed with a stone and said the incident was believed to have happened between 08:00 and 13:00 local time on Monday, 26 October.

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Nobby Stiles was just 15 years old at the time of the disaster and an apprentice at United. But he spoke how deeply the tragedy had affected him. Eight Manchester Utd players were among the 23 who died.

Nobby's son John Giles, 62, of Doncaster, a former Leeds United player, said: "It is sickening to think that anyone could do that.

"I am shocked and saddened that people could steal from a tribute which is such an emotional thing for so many. It is sad to find out that anyone could do such a thing."

Nobby Stiles died in 2020, aged 78, and a post mortem showed that he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain condition caused by heading the ball.

The Manchester United Memorial Foundation said it was unclear exactly how many medals were missing "They don't understand the damage that they've caused," its chairman Ifty Ahmed said.

He said the memorial had provided solace for families who lost loved ones in the crash. "And whatever they've taken from inside the showcase, they haven't taken our memories," he said.

He urged those responsible to return the stolen items, saying they mean so much to Manchester United supporters and families of those killed in the Munich air disaster

Mark Salzmann, chairman of Red Docs Munich, a Bayern Munich supporters' group which helps care for the memorial, said his mother discovered the damage while driving past.

Salzmann said a glass sculpture originally presented to Munich's former mayor, Dieter Reiter, was among the stolen items. About 1,500 people attended the annual remembrance service at Manchesterplatz in February, according to the memorial foundation

Ahmed said it was still unclear exactly how many medals were missing. He said Manchester United had offered to pay for repairs, but the foundation had already agreed to cover the costs itself.

The broken glass was replaced on the same day, according to the foundation. Ahmed said supporters of Liverpool, Manchester City and Leeds had also sent messages of support.

Eight Manchester United players were among 23 passengers killed in the Munich air crash in 1958 A memorial stone was installed in 2004, while the display case was added in 2020 and officially inaugurated in 2023.

About 1,500 people from around the world attended the annual remembrance service at Manchesterplatz in February, according to the foundation.

Salzmann said the messages of support he had received showed how important the memorial was, adding that the connection between Manchester and Munich "will never go away".