The Premier League are “appalled” by the tragedy chanting that could be heard from a section of the Luton fanbase for their clash at home to Liverpool on Sunday.
The Reds and Luton played out an entertaining match at Kenilworth Road with substitute Luis Diaz scoring a late equaliser for the visitors to cancel out Tahith Chong's opener. However, the game was overshadowed by the behaviour of some home fans.
Prior to the release of an official club statement from the Hatters on Monday evening, the chants were condemned by both the FA and the Premier League, while former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also called out the behaviour while commentating on the match for Sky Sports.
In their statement, Luton said they were "extremely disappointed that a small number of supporters soured the occasion." The club then went on to outline the belief that some people participating in the chants were not privy to the fact they are linked to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Premier League have outlined how they are “appalled” by the chants. They reiterated that those found to have been involved in the chants face potential stadium bans with the possibility of criminal prosecution.
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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,” the statement read. “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.”
The statement added that action of this nature had already been taken this season, involving abuse that had occurred both inside stadiums and online. “Football tragedy abuse causes significant distress to the victims’ families and other football supporters,” the statement added. “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.”
Tragedy chanting overshadowed an entertaining game between the Reds and LutonThe statement adds words from Liverpool supporter Margaret Aspinall, former Chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, whose son James tragically died at Hillsborough. Margaret said: “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.
"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.”
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