Luton Town Football Club has threatened to ban supporters who are found to have taken part in tragedy chanting during Sunday’s Premier League match against Liverpool at Kenilworth Road.
The chants, which indirectly referenced the Hillsborough disaster, were condemned by both managers, Jürgen Klopp and Rob Edwards, and former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher.
Luton has issued a statement saying they are “saddened” and “extremely disappointed” by the chants and are reviewing CCTV and media footage to identify those involved. The club has also said that any perpetrators could face stadium bans and potential criminal prosecutions.
The Football Association (FA) has also condemned the chanting and has asked both Luton and the police for their observations. The FA has said that it will continue to work closely with stakeholders across the game to address the issue of tragedy chanting.
This is not the first time tragedy chanting has been an issue in English football. In April, the Premier League announced it was stepping up its crackdown on the practice following a marked increase in incidents.
The Premier League has said that it will treat tragedy chanting as an unacceptable issue and that those found guilty will face an automatic club ban and be referred to the police.
The Love Football, Protect the Game initiative, which was agreed by the English game’s authorities on the eve of the current season, has also introduced strict new measures to deal with tragedy chanting. These measures include stadium bans and potential criminal prosecution for those found to have been involved in tragedy-related offences.
These measures will help to deter fans from chanting about tragedies and they will create a more respectful and inclusive environment for all fans.
