Tennessee man arrested for tragedy chanting in Liverpool game as arrests followed Man United’s visit to Liverpool.
Tennessee man and eight other people were caught by the police following reports of tragedy chanting at Sunday’s Premier League game between Liverpool and Manchester United.
Section 5 of the Public Order Act (tragedy chanting) led Merseyside police to arrest a 28-year-old man from Hendersonville, Tennessee, in the United States, and a 46-year-old man from Church Warsop, Nottinghamshire.
On suspicion of the same offence, six more people were taken into custody and requested to voluntarily attend interviews. Among them are a 42-year-old Hale guy, a 30-year-old Stockport man, a 59-year-old Congleton man, a 21-year-old Bala, Wales, a 50-year-old Manchester man, and a 52-year-old Manchester lady.
Chief inspector Lisa Ledder said: “Football fans who chant about tragedies cause huge distress to those families and people directly affected. The tragic loss of life is not a subject for tribal point-scoring, and this behaviour has absolutely no place in football. Regardless of team affiliation, we will continue to work with clubs to take action to identify and bring any perpetrators to justice.
“I hope the arrests of these individuals sends a clear message and acts as a deterrent to others that you risk getting a criminal record and ending up in custody if you choose to engage in this despicable behaviour.”
Tragedy chanting has been an increasing occurrence in Manchester United and Liverpool fixtures. There have been multiple instances of both sets of fans poking fun and derogatory jibes on the harrowing tragedies suffered by both clubs in the past.