Manchester United and Liverpool teamed up earlier in the week to issue a warning to their respective set of fans.
The two great rivals will meet at Anfield on Monday in a rare evening game between the pair, with a joint-statement from the two clubs informing fans that there will be a zero-tolerance approach to ‘offensive or discriminatory behaviour’ in the stadium:
‘If any supporters are found to be engaged in any form of offensive or discriminatory behaviour by stewards or via CCTV then they will be immediately removed from the stadium, risk arrest, prosecution and be reported in accordance with the Club’s ground regulations.’Â
Such behaviour includes chanting about the Munich and Hillsborough tragedies, something which happened during the two Europa League ties between the clubs earlier in the year.
Ahead of the game, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has urged supporters to respect the tragedies when asked about the issue at his press conference on Friday.
“In football we have some ‘football tragedies’, if you can say that.” Mourinho said. The big match that we lost, the mistake that some player did, this kind of thing. You can make fun of it in a positive way.”
“But the human tragedy is something much, much, much more serious. I think it’s the last thing somebody should use in a football pitch.”
“I would be really sad if in such a big football match that was a negative point.”
A message from the manager on Liverpool v #MUFC… https://t.co/7H1GfFfEru
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 14, 2016
Well said, Jose.
23 people – including several United players – were killed in the Munich air disaster in 1958, whereas 96 Liverpool supporters were killed at the Hillsborough tragedy in 1989.
