Manchester City have expressed their strong disapproval of the actions of those responsible for the damage to the Liverpool team coach on its return from the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Greater Manchester Police have launched an investigation into the incident, which took place at approximately 3.40pm on Ashton New Road close to the junction of Rowsley Street. The club has stated that incidents of this kind are completely unacceptable and they will offer their full support to the investigation in any way possible.
The club has also expressed their disappointment in the inappropriate chants made by their fans during the game. The chants, which taunted Liverpool fans, were heard during the first half of the match. City’s statement said that they regret any offence these chants may have caused and they will continue to work with supporter groups and officials from both clubs to eradicate hateful chanting from this fixture.
October’s reverse fixture between the two clubs at Anfield was also marred by similar ‘tragedy chanting’. An image also showed damage to the City windscreen after their 1-0 defeat, with detectives investigating a complaint of alleged criminal damage. In 2018, City’s bus was attacked before a Champions League quarter-final, when bottles, cans and flares were thrown.
City manager Pep Guardiola said members of the Anfield crowd threw coins at him during October’s league meeting, following which he apologised for supporter chants which referenced the Hillsborough and Heysel tragedies. Last month, Liverpool and Manchester United managers Jurgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag called for an end to “tragedy chanting” in a joint statement before the two sides met.
In November, the Football Association had expressed concerns over the rise of “abhorrent chants” related to stadium tragedies – including by fans of City and United on visits to Anfield. In February, Manchester United and Leeds United “strongly condemned” chants about historic tragedies when they met at Elland Road.
The Hillsborough disaster in 1989 remains the UK’s worst sporting disaster, with a jury at an inquest later ruling that the fans were unlawfully killed. Manchester City have made it clear that such behaviour is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. They have pledged to work with both clubs to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future.