A pair of Liverpool FC fans who claimed they were arrested for making racist remarks after shouting "Yanks Out" in protest at the club's owners have had their case thrown out of court.
[Telegraph]
Published: 6:45AM GMT 22 Jan 2010
Protests against Liverpool FC's American owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, at Anfield Photo: LDPE
James McKenna, 22, said he and a friend were singled out during a peaceful protest at Anfield against American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks on December 13 last year, purely for making the comments.
They were held for six hours at a police station before being charged with public order offences.
However the case was thrown out by the Crown Prosecution Service at a short Community Justice Court hearing in Liverpool.
Mr McKenna, a member of the Spirit of Shankly supporters' club, which campaigns against the two Americans' ownership, said after the hearing: "I just shouted 'Yanks Out!'
"The police were out on their horses and they grabbed me. When I asked what for they said: 'For racism.'
"We were just there to make our point to the owners as we heard they were attending."
Malcolm Clarke, from the Football Supporters' Federation, said if true it would be of "grave concern".
He said: "This was clearly a protest against two particular people, not a general racist slur against Americans."
A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "A 22-year-old man from Bootle was arrested for using threatening, abusive or insulting words or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress and was subsequently charged with a public order offence.
"A 30-year-old man from Dingle was also arrested and charged for a section five public order offence.
"Both men were bailed to appear at North Liverpool Community Justice Court where the charges were discontinued."
[Telegraph]
Published: 6:45AM GMT 22 Jan 2010
Protests against Liverpool FC's American owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, at Anfield Photo: LDPE
James McKenna, 22, said he and a friend were singled out during a peaceful protest at Anfield against American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks on December 13 last year, purely for making the comments.
They were held for six hours at a police station before being charged with public order offences.
However the case was thrown out by the Crown Prosecution Service at a short Community Justice Court hearing in Liverpool.
Mr McKenna, a member of the Spirit of Shankly supporters' club, which campaigns against the two Americans' ownership, said after the hearing: "I just shouted 'Yanks Out!'
"The police were out on their horses and they grabbed me. When I asked what for they said: 'For racism.'
"We were just there to make our point to the owners as we heard they were attending."
Malcolm Clarke, from the Football Supporters' Federation, said if true it would be of "grave concern".
He said: "This was clearly a protest against two particular people, not a general racist slur against Americans."
A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "A 22-year-old man from Bootle was arrested for using threatening, abusive or insulting words or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress and was subsequently charged with a public order offence.
"A 30-year-old man from Dingle was also arrested and charged for a section five public order offence.
"Both men were bailed to appear at North Liverpool Community Justice Court where the charges were discontinued."
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