In a shameful episode that unfolded at Wembley, an individual was detained following an apparent mockery of the Hillsborough disaster – a tragedy that still haunts Liverpool to this day. This tragic incident will forever be a part of Liverpool’s history, connecting it to Manchester United through a shared, painful footballing heritage.
At the heart of this unfortunate episode was a Manchester United supporter wearing a shirt bearing the number 97, provocatively partnered with the words ‘Not Enough’. This calculated and callous reference to the Hillsborough tragedy, where 97 Liverpool fans lost their lives, was swiftly acted upon.
The Metropolitan Police Events’ Twitter account sprang into action, promptly retweeting a picture that had been posted by ‘Liverpool Photos’. Acknowledging their awareness of the situation, the Met’s events Twitter account announced: “We are aware of this and have worked proactively with officials at @wembleystadium to identify the individual.”
Prompt Police Action
The individual was swiftly arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and taken into custody.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the Hillsborough disaster on April 15, 1989, when a match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest led to the tragic loss of 97 lives due to a catastrophic crush. Following years of investigation, an inquest jury in 2016 conclusively established that those who died were unlawfully killed, amidst a number of police errors.
A Stain on Football
Sadly, this is not the first instance of football fans exploiting these tragic events to cause offence. Liverpool and Manchester United, two giants of English football, have been subjected to ‘tragedy chanting’ in the past. This ugly trend was strongly condemned by managers Jurgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag earlier this year ahead of a match at Anfield.
Ten Hag had a clear message for Manchester United fans: “’It is unacceptable to use the loss of life — in relation to any tragedy — to score points, and it is time for it to stop. Those responsible tarnish not only the reputation of our clubs but also, importantly, the reputation of themselves, the fans, and our great cities.”
In the wake of this recent event, the call for action against these “disgusting” chants related to Hillsborough at football matches has become louder. Football, while a passionate sport, should never forget the human cost that has been paid. Let’s hope this respect becomes the norm, not the exception.
Ban for life from any sporting event UK.
Disgusting individual who should be banned from every football ground, not JUST UK but worldwide.