Liverpool issue statement in response to Mohamed Salah chants

Jack O'Toole

Liverpool have said that is the responsibility of those in positions of authority to act urgently to identify and then punish anyone committing a hate crime after winger Mohamed Salah was subjected to hateful chants by Chelsea fans on Thursday

Three Chelsea supporters were barred entry into the club’s Europa League tie against Slavia Prague on Thursday after they were identified by security staff as having engaged in a chant describing Salah, as a “bomber”.

Chelsea condemned the incident in a statement and Liverpool said that they are currently working with Merseyside Police to ascertain the facts around this footage with the aim of identifying individuals featuring in the video.

The statement reads:

“The video circulating online, showing vile discriminatory chants being aimed at one of our players, is dangerous and disturbing.

“Already this season, we have seen repulsive discriminatory abuse inside stadiums in England, Europe and across the world; abuse that was captured on devices and put into the public domain. We have also witnessed numerous hateful attacks on social media.

“This behaviour needs to be called out for what it is – unadulterated bigotry.

“Liverpool Football Club believes it is the responsibility of those in positions of authority, following proper process, to act urgently to identify and then punish anyone committing a hate crime.

“There is no place for this behaviour in football, there is no place for it in society. A crime of this nature has more victims than any individual it is aimed at and, as such, collective and decisive action is needed to address it.

“As pertains to this latest incident, the club is working with Merseyside Police to ascertain the facts around this footage with the aim of identifying individuals featuring in it.

“In addition, we are working directly with Chelsea Football Club on the matter. We thank them for their condemnation and a commitment to act urgently to identify any individuals responsible.”

Chelsea said in a separate statement that those involved were an embarrassment to the club.

Their statement read:

“Chelsea FC finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour abhorrent and where there is clear evidence of Chelsea season ticket holders or members involved in such behaviour, we will take the strongest possible action against them.