The latest issue of the Manchester United fanzine Red Issue is under fire for apparently mocking the outpouring of support for Fabrice Muamba following his near-fatal collapse last week.

Scroll down for the cover in full

Under the headline Grief Junkies Run Riot, it features the harrowing scene after he slumped to the ground as concerned teammates gathered around him.

Private Eye-style speech bubbles asking, "Is he dead?", "I've tweeted my condolences just in case" and "Good mourning!" hover above.

Twitter commentators are already up in arms about the Red Issue cover, branding it "poor taste" and "sickening".

Red Issue has responded via the same medium with: "It's not mocking Muamba you simpleton" and labelling the complainers as "gobsh*tes".

@RedIssue
Red Issue

@Richard_Buxton_ It's not mocking Muamba you simpleton.

March 26, 2012 1:42 pm via web Reply Retweet Favorite

@RedIssue
Red Issue

FAO all Twitter gobshites: it's not like you don't know where to find us. Come and say hello after 5pm. #cyberhoolies

March 26, 2012 1:16 pm via web Reply Retweet Favorite

Thousands of football fans clapped and cheered in a show of support for Muamba as his Bolton Wanderers side returned to the pitch on Saturday.

The 23-year-old player remains in a "serious but stable" condition at the London Chest Hospital, where he was admitted last Saturday after suffering a cardiac arrest during his club's FA Cup quarter-final with Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

At the Reebok Stadium, his team-mates took on Blackburn Rovers in a local derby as Wanderers resumed their Premier League campaign.

Players from both sides completed their warm-up with T-shirts emblazoned with "Muamba 6" in tribute to the midfielder as fans chanted his name.

Blackburn Rovers' players wear Muamba on the backs of their shirts

Shortly before kick-off a video was shown on the big screen featuring images of support that have been received during the week.

Today doctors said Muamba was making "encouraging progress" in his recovery and had been able to "sit out of bed" and watch television.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle revealed that Muamba watched his team-mates' 2-1 victory over Blackburn on Match Of The Day yesterday morning - but fell asleep when the score was 2-0.

Coyle also confirmed that a small delegation of Bolton players will visit Muamba in hospital ahead of tomorrow's rearranged FA Cup quarter-final at Tottenham.

Is it all a bit of harmless banter or has Red Issue crossed line?

@Richard_Buxton_
Richard Buxton

#MUFC fanzine Red Issue sinking to new depths with sickening cover on latest edition. Even United fans are outraged: http://t.co/yihe3ob0

March 26, 2012 12:57 pm via UberSocial for BlackBerry Reply Retweet Favorite

@mike_rawlins
Mike Rawlins

#mufc fanzine red issue gets it wrong, horribly horribly wrong. http://t.co/b9vEOckC

March 26, 2012 1:15 pm via Twitter for Mac Reply Retweet Favorite

@rambo_mufc
Ramy 'mufc'

Just seen the front cover of today's Red Issue, no-one buy it, that is a disgrace. http://t.co/2j94siim. #BoycottRedIssue #mufc

March 26, 2012 1:07 pm via Twitter for BlackBerry® Reply Retweet Favorite

@AdamArsenal
Adam Arsenal

Just seen the front cover of that new Red Issue edition.... Disgusting... I'm so proud we have a decent Fanzine!!!! @GoonerFanzine

March 26, 2012 1:47 pm via web Reply Retweet Favorite

@RedIssue
Red Issue

No wonder the Twitterati aren't happy with the cover - it's them who are being lampooned #griefjunkies

March 26, 2012 1:04 pm via web Reply Retweet Favorite

Loading Slideshow

• Tottenham Hotspur's William Gallas reacts on the pitch after Bolton Wanderers' Fabrice Muamba collapses

• (left-right) Tottenham Hotspur's Carlo Cudicini, Luka Modric and Louis Saha look concerned after Bolton Wanderers' Fabrice Muamba collapses on the pitch and is resusitated by medical staff

• Tottenham Hotspur's Luka Modric (2nd left), Bolton Wanderers' Ivan Klasnic, referee Howard Webb and manager Bolton Wanderers' manager Owen Coyle look on after Fabrice Muamba collapses on the pitch

• Tottenham Hotspur's Benoit Assou-Ekotto (left), William Gallas, Carlo Cudicini and manager Bolton Wanderers' manager Owen Coyle look on after Fabrice Muamba collapses on the pitch

• Tottenham Hotspur's Jermain Defoe, Ryan Nelsen and Luka Modric react after Bolton Wanderers' Fabrice Muamba is carried off on a stretcher

• Tottenham Hotspur's Jermain Defoe reacts on the pitch after Bolton Wanderers Fabrice Muamba collapses on the pitch

• Players walk back into the tunnel after the game is abandoned after Bolton Wanderers Fabrice Muamba collapses on the pitch

• The medical team tend to Bolton Wanderers' Fabrice Muamba as Ryo Miyaichi, Darren Pratley and Dedryck Boyata look on

Video of Bolton fans staging a mosaic tribute to Muamba