Eight people arrested for tragedy chanting during match between Liverpool and Manchester United

Police have made a number of arrests following reports of tragedy chanting during a Premier League match.

Eight people were arrested during the match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday 5 January, including a 28-year-old man from Tennessee, under Section 5 of the Public Order Act (Tragedy Chanting).

Police made the arrests following reports of tragedy chanting, which typically involves fans singing deeply offensive songs that reference stadium disasters or fatal accidents involving players or supporters.

In the past, chants and gestures about the 1958 Munich Air Disaster, in which 22 people died including eight players, have been directed towards Manchester United fans.

Individuals have also been prosecuted for chanting about the Hillsborough disaster, a 1989 crowd crush that caused the death of 97 fans, the majority of whom were Liverpool supporters.

As well as making eight arrests, Merseyside Police have asked five men and one woman to attend interviews under caution on suspicion of tragedy chanting.

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.”

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To know...