Liverpool fans were left angered and concerned when club chairman Tom Werner expressed his desire to play Premier League games in New York. The announcement prompted the club’s official Supporters Board to take action and seek reassurances from the club.
The Supporters Board, which is enshrined in the club’s Articles of Association, contacted the club to express their opposition to the idea of playing competitive matches abroad. They emphasized that as fans, they are determined to prevent such a move. The Board highlighted other pressing issues in football, such as ticket prices, the need for an independent regulator, and financial fairness. They firmly stated that the location of matches should not be one of the things that need to change.
The supporters board made their concerns public on social media, with a tweet from the Spirit of Shankly account stating, “Anyone determined to play competitive LFC Premier League matches abroad should remember that we as fans are determined they don’t. There’s lots of things that need to change in football – ticket prices, an independent regulator, financial fairness and more. Where we play doesn’t!”
The Supporters Board also released a statement clarifying their position. They confirmed that their chairman, Joe Blott, had spoken directly to the club regarding Werner’s comments. The club assured them that Werner’s statement was a personal idea and not something Liverpool Football Club was considering. Furthermore, they reassured the Board that any such proposal would be subject to consultation with the Supporters Board, in accordance with their agreement.
While this response from the club is reassuring and indicates that there is no immediate danger of them acting on Werner’s idea, it is still frustrating for fans to know that the chairman holds such views. The principal owner of Liverpool, John Henry, has made it clear that he isn’t particularly interested in pursuing this idea.
It is worth noting that Liverpool pushing to play home matches away from Anfield would fall under the remit of the Supporters Board, which was established in 2022. As the chairman of the Board, Joe Blott, stated, any significant changes that affect the football club, such as a ground share, a ground move, or a move to a breakaway league, cannot happen without fan consent.
While the supporters can take solace in the fact that Liverpool Football Club is not currently considering playing Premier League games in New York, the comments made by Werner highlight the ongoing issue of ticket prices at Anfield. The chairman’s suggestion to offer affordable travel and accommodations for fans to attend matches in New York sparked criticism from fans who believe that making tickets at Anfield more affordable should be a priority.
In conclusion, Liverpool’s official Supporters Board reacted swiftly to Tom Werner’s idea of playing Premier League games in New York. They sought reassurances from the club and made it clear that they are determined to prevent such a move. The club responded by stating that Werner’s comment was a personal idea and not something they were considering. While this provides some relief for fans, the episode highlights the ongoing concerns surrounding ticket prices and affordability at Anfield.