New Measures to Tackle Hateful Chanting About Football Tragedies

The Premier League and FA have announced “tough new measures” to tackle hateful chanting about events such as Hillsborough.

If you’ve been to Anfield, you know the drill. In the vast majority of games, a portion of the away end will start to sing songs about Liverpool fans being ‘victims’ or sometimes worse. Football has largely turned a blind eye until recently, but various high profile incidents over the last 12 months, coupled with campaigns against tragedy chanting, have brought it into the spotlight.

Now, English football is beginning to wake up to the problem, with the Premier League, FA and EFL, among others, announcing new measures to tackle hateful chanting.

What Their Statement Says

The statement from the Premier League and FA reads: “To challenge the totally unacceptable presence of football tragedy abuse, for season 2023/24, regulation changes and tough new measures have been introduced which will see people who are found to have committed offences face stadium bans and potential criminal prosecution.

“The issue is focused on offensive chanting, gesturing and displaying offensive messages based on football-related tragedies, which causes significant distress to the victims’ families, survivors and affected club supporters.

“Football authorities, supporter groups and law enforcement organisations, including the police and CPS, have united to crack down on fans who participate in this vile form of abuse.

“In addition to bans