Premier League left ‘appalled’ by tragedy chanting during Luton’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool, as they vow to educate the next generation about the ‘significant distress’ caused by the abuse
- Tragedy chanting took place during Liverpool’s draw with Luton on Sunday
- The Premier League have issued a statement in response to the chanting
- Can Liverpool challenge for the title? Listen to the debate on It’s All Kicking Off
The Premier League have slammed the tragedy chanting that occurred during Luton’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday.
Rob Edwards’ side picked up an impressive point against the Reds, but the match was marred by unsavoury songs from the Kenilworth Road crowd.
Chants of ‘always the victims, it’s never your fault’ – a song that refers back to the Hillsborough Disaster – could be heard during the game, with co-commentator Jamie Carragher calling it out live on air.
The Premier League have now released a statement in response to the chanting.
The statement read: ‘The Premier League strongly condemns all forms of football tragedy abuse and was appalled by the chanting heard at Sunday’s match between Luton Town FC and Liverpool FC.
Tragedy chanting was heard during Liverpool’s match with Luton on Sunday
The two sides played out a 1-1 draw, but the game was marred by the unsavoury chanting
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‘We, alongside clubs, The FA and EFL, continue to treat offensive tragedy-related chanting, gesturing and displaying of abusive messages as an unacceptable issue and are committed to working together to address it as a priority.
‘New tough measures were introduced at the start of this season, which mean people who are found to have committed offences face stadium bans and potential criminal prosecution.
‘Football tragedy abuse causes significant distress to the victims’ families and other football supporters.
‘As part of the package of measures announced at the start of the season, the Premier League will launch education resources to help children understand the hurt and impact of negative behaviour such as tragedy-related abuse.’
Liverpool supporter Margaret Aspinall, the former Chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, also called for fans to speak up if they know who was involved in the chanting.
‘Football brings so much joy to so many people all over the world, but there is no need for people to be chanting in the way they do,’ she added.
‘The pain it causes is unbearable; we do not deserve to hear these chants, they hurt just as much as losing your child. If you hear that chanting, go to a steward, report it as, through the proper authorities, you can change things. Anything that offends or hurts anybody is never acceptable.’
Jamie Carragher called out the chanting live on air, and the Premier League have now condemned the tragedy chanting inside the stadium
The Premier League’s statement came just hours after the FA ‘strongly condemned’ the chanting.
Bedfordshire Police have also got involved in investigating the chanting at Sunday’s match, after Liverpool contacted Luton on Monday to question their response in the immediate aftermath of their clash.
Luton released their own statement on Monday afternoon, but claimed it was only a ‘small number of supporters’ that had taken part in the chanting.
They also suggested that some fans may have not been aware that the chants related to the Hillsborough Disaster in 1989 or the Heysel Stadium Disaster four years earlier.
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