Liverpool and Man United ask to avoid chants about tragedies

LIVERPOOL (AP) — Liverpool and Manchester United have teamed up to urge fans ahead of Sunday’s Premier League game at Anfield to avoid “tragedy chants.”

The bitter rivals released a statement signed by Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp and his United counterpart Erik ten Hag on Saturday calling for an end to online chanting and abuse over tragedies such as Munich and Hillsborough.

“Using loss of life – related to tragedy – to gain points is unacceptable and it’s time to put an end to it,” said Ten Hag. “These officials are not only tarnishing the reputation of the clubs, but more importantly, their reputation, that of the fans and of our big cities.”

The rivalry is intense, but it shouldn’t cross the line, Klopp has warned.

“We want the occasion to be biased and we want the atmosphere to be electric.” added the Liverpool manager. “What we don’t want is anything beyond that and that particularly applies to the kinds of chants that shouldn’t continue in football.”

“If we can keep the passion and avoid the toxic, it will be better for everyone.”

Technicians made specific reference to the Munich plane crash and the Hillsborough and Heysel stadium tragedies.

The Munich crash of February 6, 1958 resulted in the deaths of 23 people, including eight United players.

While on April 15, 1989, ninety-seven Liverpool fans were crushed to death in a packed Hillsborough stadium.

In the 1985 European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, 39 people died from violence.

In February, the Premier League said it would deal with the matter “as urgently” after chants from Leeds and United fans during the match at Elland Road. Some Leeds fans sought to incite United with chants about Munich and Red Devils supporters responded with chants about the deaths of Leeds supporters in Istanbul in 2000.