But then I read a comment posted by a supporter in response to Phil McNulty’s review on the BBC website that I found somewhat depressing and reminded me that – despite all the joy football can provide – the sport is still suffering its demons that the summer Olympics have so demonstrably highlighted.
The comment suggested that in the away section of Goodison Park last night, Man Utd fans, frustrated by their team’s performance, started chanting at Everton supporters making reference to the Hillsborough Disaster. When, I ask, is this continuous need for supporters to use the death of former football players and fans killed in tragic circumstances as an aggressive form of ‘banter’ going to cease? All it does is show an underlying hatred that exists in the sport – which burns so deep that a section of fans from most football clubs feel the need to refer to deaths of men, women and children to make their point.
There are an element of Everton fans who are just as bad – particularly when we pay at Anfield. Whether it’s ‘Murderers’ directed at Liverpool supporters in reference to the Heysel Disaster, the outstretched arms in the guise of a plane directed at Man Utd supporters in reference to the Munich Air Crash, or whatever the fuck it is people chant about when making reference the Hillsborough Disaster and 96 people being crushed to death – this type of crowd ‘banter’ has to be taken in the same vain as racism by the authorities and the FA and the ramifications have to be the same.
Enough, I say!!!
Editorial note: It should be noted that reports of these "Hillsborough" chants apparently started on Twitter and have not, to our knowledge, been verified by anyone who was there.
Reader Comments (26)
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2 Posted 22/08/2012 at 05:46:32
3 Posted 22/08/2012 at 06:38:25
4 Posted 22/08/2012 at 08:40:08
5 Posted 22/08/2012 at 08:48:49
6 Posted 22/08/2012 at 08:58:26
I take the original point but I also think that things like this should be verified before you start off on a pontification route based on a comment from a single anonymous poster on a website.
7 Posted 22/08/2012 at 09:11:55
8 Posted 22/08/2012 at 09:09:16
The only chant they did that pissed me off was when they were asked to sit down and they sang ' we are Manchester United we;ll do as we like' and ignored the requests.
In cases like that I think the FA should slap them with a hefty fine. It did not affect Evertonians but the view of some of their own young fans was plainly
impaired.
9 Posted 22/08/2012 at 09:31:49
10 Posted 22/08/2012 at 09:43:35
As regards the Hillsborough chanting, I don't know how that originated, but it has been debunked by numerous people who were there. It's just as easy to start a rumour about fan behaviour as it is about Owen signing.
11 Posted 22/08/2012 at 09:49:19
12 Posted 22/08/2012 at 09:51:37
So you saw a single comment on the internet from one anonymous poster and you decide to write an article about it and use it to bring this subject to attention even criticising some of our fans. All this after we're just had a great win. Absolutely ridiculous, unneccessary and is taking away from the actual game.
13 Posted 22/08/2012 at 11:10:45
They may be thick but they know the difference between red and Blue.
14 Posted 22/08/2012 at 11:19:24
It wasn't a single anonymous poster on the internet, it was rumoured widely yesterday and Sam is commenting, that's all. Whether or not it happened on Monday night, the comment is valid. It happens all-too-regularly across at stadiums across the country, and I have heard some horrible chants from Everton fans in the not-too-distant past.
Songs about deaths at matches, on aeroplanes, players babies, racism, homophobia etc are despicable and have absolutely no place in the game.
Those who do sing these songs are the ones taking the more positive aspects of nights such as Monday away from the game, not those commenting and being offended. Sam's post certainly doesn't take away what was a tremendous night, performance and atmosphere.
15 Posted 22/08/2012 at 12:01:06
16 Posted 22/08/2012 at 12:01:51
17 Posted 22/08/2012 at 12:03:19
Some of the songs sung in derbies now, i.e. about Steven Gerrard's kids and murderers etc, are so bad I find it embarrassing.
18 Posted 22/08/2012 at 12:12:29
The one shout that I smiled at, was the return of the "You're just a fat little knobhead", childish but I like it.
19 Posted 22/08/2012 at 12:58:46
Disgusting, it is not banter, it is crazy talk.
Feelings run high in football, but there needs to be a line somewhere. Calling fans murderers is going too far.
Having said this I did not hear anything from the Man Utd fans, so we should treat this as a general call to grow up.
20 Posted 22/08/2012 at 13:20:57
21 Posted 22/08/2012 at 14:01:26
22 Posted 22/08/2012 at 14:33:33
As far as I can remember, the Everton players were just if not more sad despite qualifying for the FA Cup Final.
It's a tragedy that struck everyone — not just the Liverpool clubs
23 Posted 22/08/2012 at 16:41:28
Things said or shouted during a game may be beyond the bounds of propriety, but they are often well worth a giggle. I recall an Everton game during which an Evertonian shouted something obscene to a Charlton player; nobody was amused and the guy kept his mouth shut for the rest of the game.
24 Posted 23/08/2012 at 18:07:37
25 Posted 23/08/2012 at 19:41:42
A poster says that Sam is not wrong to post on this subject beacuse there is a known rumour. Maybe - but if he did want to post he should have asked for evidence from fans who were in a good position to hear - and anyone who has read this thread will know they all said they heard nothing of the sort.
Instead Sam got on his soap box based on the rumour being true and then - self-satisfied - he claims 'enough said'.
We'll decide on that Sam.
26 Posted 27/08/2012 at 14:35:06
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1 Posted 22/08/2012 at 05:35:02