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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Liam Thorp

Liverpool fan and son escorted to safety after confronting Brentford group over racist chants

A Liverpool fan said he felt 'sick' when hearing racist and homophobic chants - as well as Hillsborough slurs - from Brentford fans after last weekend's Anfield clash.

Mas Patel and his 12-year-old son had to be escorted to safety by security guards after challenging a group of fans who he said were making vile chants on the train back to London after watching their side lose 3-0 at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

Mas, a lifelong Liverpool fan - originally from Lancashire but who now lives in London - had enjoyed a great day out with his Liverpool-mad son Zenadin and friends, watching the Reds run out 3-0 winners.

Read more: Woman clung on for her life before 80ft fall in front of horrified boyfriend

But it was on the train home when he said things took a turn.

Mas explained: "We had managed to get tickets in the Kop and my son was so excited, we had a great time at the match.

"The train back to London was really busy with Brentford and Liverpool fans, we were sat near some young Brentford fans, either in their late teens or early twenties - they had loads of beer with them.

"At first it all seemed quite jovial, but then the temperature seemed to change and get quite tense - we couldn't move because it was so full."

Mas, 47, said in amongst the chanting and songs he started to hear racist terminology.

He said: "I heard them using the P word again and again.

"Then they moved on to homophobic chants as well as saying horrible things about Jewish people and Irish people."

Mas said a little later the group started making chants about Liverpool fans in reference to the fans who died in the Hillsborough Disaster.

He said: "It was horrible, they were clearly trying to wind up the Liverpool fans on the train, I felt sick hearing those chants."

Mas said he decided to start filming the group as he wanted to get evidence, and he then tweeted about his experiences, but the group clearly saw his tweet and realised who had sent it.

He said: "They realised it was me who had tweeted and they came up to me and were really threatening, getting in my face - my son was really upset and scared, that was the hardest part for me."

Mas said he stood his ground and challenged the group - with an older Brentford fan backing him up.

He said: "It was really tense, but this one Brentford fan, who was an older man, got up and stuck up for me - he said he was disgusted with the group and that they did not represent the club. It was amazing what he did."

Mas and his son then got taken to the front of the train by staff for their safety.

He said that at Euston Station they were escorted out by security guards because the group of Brentford fans were waiting outside for him.

He added: "There was about eight of them waiting outside the station, when security put me in a cab they came up trying to pull the doors open."

Mas, who is a lawyer as well as a Labour councillor in London, said he had been impressed by the quick response of Brentford Football Club, which has condemned the group and said it will investigate and ban any fans found to have been involved in discrimination.

A club spokesperson said: "We condemn any abusive or discriminatory behaviour that has taken place. We will be investigating and will follow up on these awful reports. We are a club for all. Discrimination has no place at Brentford FC."

The Bees have also invited Mas and his son to a match.

Mas has been encouraged to report the abuse to police, but he said he would prefer to try and educate the group.

He added: "I think if those lads have got the guts to sit down with me and listen to what I have to say - I believe that is a better outcome than them being banned or having their careers and lives ruined.

"I think we need to educate people."

Mas said he would also like to try and reconnect with the Brentford fan who stood up for him, adding: "I would love to buy him a beer and say thank you for what he did."

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