It happens so often we have almost become immune.

In every walk of life, it seems the norm to excuse the inexcusable and defend those who really should be hung out to dry.

So we accept things that have no right to take place - and block perfectly valid issues for fear of upsetting the minority.

Victims suffer while the perpetrators are allowed to stroll away.

Fifty years ago next week, English football suffered a genuine tragedy on a snowy runway in Munich.

Manchester United's all-conquering team of Busby Babes were destroyed when eight players perished after the plane skidded out of control.

For those of us too young to remember, it is hard to understand what an impact it must have had on the country.

The finest football side of their generation effectively wiped out in a split-second. Duncan Edwards, THE superstar at the time, was among the victims.

It was more than Manchester that mourned their loss; fans everywhere were numbed by the shock.

United have always remained sensitive to the past. A commemorative Munich clock acts as a permanent memory at Old Trafford.

Quite rightly, the club intend to honour those who lost their lives with a minute's silence in the home game which coincides with the anniversary. But it happens to be a Manchester derby against City.

So the silence is likely to be dropped.

Why? Do you really need to ask?

In our supposedly civilised society, it is apparently beyond a brainless few in the away end to show their respect and keep it buttoned for 60 seconds.

Rather than risk one or two idiots shouting out, the football authorities believe it would be more sensible to do away with the silence altogether. The wishes of more than 75,000 fans are trampled on because we cannot trust the thick few.

United have suggested alternative ways of showing their feelings such as the increasingly trendy minute's applause. Yes, that's fine to remember a great entertainer such as George Best - but is it really the most appropriate manner in which to mark such a shocking event?

Bradford City fans, of course, suffer their own personal grief; fresher in the mind and - in numerical terms - more catastrophic. The fire tragedy of 1985 will never, ever be forgotten.

Every year there is a memorial service on the May 11 anniversary; City's season always finishes with a silence at the final home game.

The way that was observed on Boxing Day, when Lincoln visited Valley Parade for the first time in the league since that awful afternoon, showed that the emotion remains as raw as ever.

On that occasion - as with most years - you could have heard a pin drop. That is how it should be.

Unfortunately there will be always be the risk that some lame brain may find it too much to stay schtum for a whole minute. But would that be reason enough to abandon the ceremony in future years?

Rather than pandering to these sad individuals, it is time to shame them. Let Old Trafford fall silent next Sunday.

If there are some who try to ruin the mood then root them out. But let the decent majority have their say.