The managers of Manchester United and Liverpool have urged fans to refrain from chanting about Hillsborough, Heysel or Munich at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Unfortunately, chanting about tragedies has been part of football for many years, and it continued at United’s 4-3 win against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals last month. Two United fans were arrested on suspicion of tragedy chanting as a result.
With the fierce rivals meeting again in the Premier League this weekend, Erik ten Hag has attempted to address tragedy-related abuse in the fixture.
Ten Hag used his programme notes to write (via BBC Sport): “It is part of my duty to remind every supporter fortunate enough to be at the game that it must be enjoyed in the proper way, and not used as an excuse for abusing rival fans about Hillsborough, Heysel or any other historic tragedies.
“This is one of the truly great rivalries in world sport, for so many of the right reasons, and it is our responsibility to keep it that way. Whether the clubs meet at Old Trafford or Anfield, all supporters must focus entirely on backing their team and both Jürgen and I trust that we can count on that happening today.”
Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp has called on supporters to “show a bit of class” .
The Liverpool manager said (via The Guardian): “I think it is super important. There are different aspects but one aspect is that I don’t hear it, honestly, when I am on the sideline but I get told it happens and that is obviously not great. But in general it is just helpful that we educate our kids in specific things: respect, understanding, all these kinds of things.
“I just see two of the biggest clubs in the world, so let’s just show a bit of class in these moments. Don’t sing this or sing that. Just show class, let the teams fight on the pitch, let’s play football; that is all fine. Besides that, just show a bit of class, that would be my wish for all of us.”
It’s a big game on Sunday and the focus should be on the game rather than what is being sung in the stands. Plus, both teams have plenty of chants to sing without mocking tragedies.
Subscribe to the Stretty News podcast Strettycast for weekly episodes on Manchester United. You can also sign up to the ad-free Stretty Newsletter. Get the Stretty News verdict on all matters Manchester United.
