Mancs Post Match

[Neil Young]

Its about time the clubs started policing their fans

[Lecter]

Hillsborough campaigner: Ban offensive fans
- last updated Mon 24 Sep 2012Premier League
Liverpool v Man Utd
Liverpool
Man Utd







Margaret Aspinall insisted the actions of a few 'morons' did not ruin Saturday's game at Anfield. Photo: PA
Hillsborough campaigner Margaret Aspinall has called for lifetime bans to be handed out to anyone making offensive gestures or singing insulting chants about deaths in football tragedies.

Aspinall, a member of the Hillsborough Families Support Group, was at Anfield yesterday as the club paid tribute to the work done in the search for justice following the publication of the independent panel's report exonerating fans for the deaths of 96 people in the 1989 disaster.

Both sets of supporters acted respectfully throughout, until after the final whistle when a couple of Liverpool supporters goaded the Manchester United contingent with a Munich gesture in reference to the 1958 crash which killed eight United players and 15 others.

The response of the United fans to the taunts was depressingly predictable, chanting "Always the victims" and "Murderers" - reminders of the Merseyside club's own recent tragedies in Hillsborough and Heysel.

Aspinall did not witness the incident, stressing it would not have affected what was an "uplifting" day anyway, but felt it was time action was taken against the perpetrators.

"A couple of fans came up to me at the end and said they hoped I hadn't heard any of it, and I didn't but a lot were upset by it," she told Press Association Sport.

"Even if I had heard it it wouldn't have mattered because there were only a few morons.

"They are not winning. You have to look at the vast majority.

"I hope it never creeps back in again. Any form of chanting about any disaster is appalling and it makes you ashamed.

"If they get caught on CCTV they should not get a second chance - ban them for life so they can never go to a match again.

"The Manchester United fans were very good yesterday. Obviously there were a few morons but you can't blame the majority."

Prior to the match yesterday United great Sir Bobby Charlton presented former Reds striker Ian Rush with flowers, later to be laid at the Hillsborough memorial, and captains Steven Gerrard and Ryan Giggs released 96 red balloons.

Mosaics on three sides of the ground reading '96', 'Justice' and 'The Truth' were displayed for the opening minute of the game.

Aspinall said the occasion had been a fitting tribute in recognition of the 23-year fight for justice, which will now continue off the field in the law courts.

"It was a very emotional day but also a very uplifting one," she added.

"We just felt very humbled by what the two clubs and fans did.

"It was a fabulous thing and it didn't matter who won at the end of the day because it was all about the 96.

"It was a wonderful tribute and I thought it was a lovely moment, a lovely gesture, when Sir Bobby Charlton presented flowers to Ian Rush on the pitch."

http://www.itv.com/sport/football/article/2012-09-24/hillsborough-campaigner-ban-offensive-fans/

[Dantheman]

Let's see what their excuse is next week when the 'minority' inevitably start up their anti- Liverpool songs and we're not there to blame.

Hope the media keep reporting it, only they can cause them enough embarrassment to stop it. Probably won't happen though.

[Eric Swindler]

I hope the media don't keep reporting it to be honest. It's distracting from the primary issue that Justice must follow from the panel's recent findings. People shouldn't lose sight of that. A few idiots singing a few cunthook songs is irrelevant. Remember it suits the powers that be 100% to take the focus away from the police/politicians etc.

[Captain Stu]

Let's see what their excuse is next week when the 'minority' inevitably start up their anti- Liverpool songs and we're not there to blame.

Hope the media keep reporting it, only they can cause them enough embarrassment to stop it. Probably won't happen though.

Well their next match is at home to Newcastle so of course the full repetoire will be on show.

[rodo]

anybody hear the lad on the anfield wrap talking about the charity do and halsey bein 2 seats down from ferguson on the top table

[dom9]

From the beeb:

Referee Mark Halsey has made a complaint to Greater Manchester Police about insulting tweets directed at him.

Tweets sent after Manchester United's 2-1 win at Liverpool on Sunday referred to the 51-year-old's treatment for throat cancer in 2009.

Halsey drew criticism from Reds manager Brendan Rodgers after sending off Jonjo Shelvey for a first-half tackle.

Halsey told BBC Sport: "I can confirm that my family have made a complaint to the police."

He added: "I will be speaking to the police on Wednesday after I have returned from refereeing Southampton v Sheffield Wednesday."

Rodgers was angry after Halsey also awarded Manchester United a late penalty, which Robin van Persie converted.

"We could control our players' performance but what we can't control is decisions by the referee," Rodgers said.

Some Liverpool fans later took to Twitter to criticise Halsey's decisions, making reference to him dying of cancer.

The abuse was condemned by the match officials' organisation, Professional Game Match Officials Limited.

"I know Mark, and certainly, he will be shaken by it. You expect stick as a referee, that is the nature of the game, but this has crossed the boundaries. It is a small minority, and hopefully they will be crushed by the people who have a lot of time for Mark. You cannot be a top level referee without making a big error, as one or two games will catch you out in your career. It only really hurt me when my children were affected by it."

PGMOL said: "[We] abhor any abuse of match officials... in stadia or outside of it."

The PGMOL said psychological support was available to referees. "Our main concern is towards Mark and his family, and like with all match officials, there is a backroom team who are there for them," it said.

"This includes a sports psychologist, who has worked extensively with the select group, including Mark, over the past few years.

"Mark has already benefited from the support of all of his colleagues and they will continue to back him this week."

Referees' union Prospect has also come out in support of the referee, calling the tweets "beneath contempt".

Halsey was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2009 but returned to refereeing in March 2010.

"I know Mark as a friend and ex-colleague, and certainly, he will be shaken by it. Some things cross the boundaries, and this has.

"You expect stick as a referee, that is the nature of the game, but I think this has crossed the boundaries.

He will be in charge of next Saturday's Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester City.

Meanwhile, the Football Association is not expected to take any action over reports of offensive chanting by a minority of fans after the end of Sunday's game.

It noted that both clubs had been active in trying to stop offensive chants.

[Chazza]

Sickening that anyone would throw that sort of abuse about.

[Daniel 7]

It is. I'm so sick of nastiness under the veil of anonymity, it disgusts me.

Football fans are becoming a disease, infecting generation after generation with bilious, snidey, cowardly ****.

Its ruining football. What was wrong with having a healthy rivalry and a modicum of contempt? Why does it all have to be so ****ing nasty?

[nineteen]

Why even allow travelling fans? I reckon it won't be too long before that's done away with and teams reclaim the "away" portion of their stadia for their own fans. I mean really, who wants a bunch of knackers coming in to their house causing a ruckus?

And if we really have to let the cunts in, take a lesson or two from the likes of Boca Juniors. I remember taking a tour of their stadium, La Bombanera, and marvelling at how they absolutely stuck it to the away team and their fans. The away dressing room is under the home fans equivalent of the kop. If you've ever been to or seen a game there you'll know just how mental those lot are. The constant noise in the away dressing room would be deafening. As for the fans, they have it a million times worse. Stuck on the top tier behind one of the goals, they face the sun for the duration - baking in the heat. There are no concessions and one small bathroom to share between the few thousand souls brave enough to venture into the chocolate box.

[baitman]

...As a season ticket holder from the age of 10 until '89 (guess why) and an OOTer (Woolie) born in Whiston many years before Stevie, it is cliquie twunts like you that put me off posting here.

FFS we are all entitled to our opinion without being hassled for not posting an average of 7 times a day for 2 years...

hey, this forum needs more input from all its members, not just the ones who post regularly. it may seem a little cliquey, especially in certain threads, but just look for the positives and im sure you will find the love, mate

[peekay]

The attack on Halsey is despicable and unpardonable.

It has also taken the focus of the main issue.

[chadrtc]

The attack on Halsey is despicable and unpardonable.

It has also taken the focus of the main issue.

Agreed...scum, subhuman scum.

[Kenneth]

It is. I'm so sick of nastiness under the veil of anonymity, it disgusts me.

Football fans are becoming a disease, infecting generation after generation with bilious, snidey, cowardly ****.

Its ruining football. What was wrong with having a healthy rivalry and a modicum of contempt? Why does it all have to be so ****ing nasty?

But you make it sound like a situation that is getting increasingly worse over the generations. It isn't at all. Nobody came away with darts in their heads. The willingness to accept it amongst the majority of the fan base has changed the most.

[Daniel 7]

But you make it sound like a situation that is getting increasingly worse over the generations. It isn't at all. Nobody came away with darts in their heads.

I know, I think its because its all encompassing now.

Sure there was violence at matches in generations past, but there wasn't a perpetual cycle of multimedia coverage and the very public abuse of either players or match officials via social media.

There are movements being organised to mail targets, hate campaigns put together at a whim and people's lives affected by people for kicks and malice, just because they made a decision they disagreed with that won't affect their lives any more than being a bit put out because one bunch of millionaires were beaten by another bunch of millionaires, who essentially think everybody debating their actions are a bunch of morons anyway.