Spirit of Shankly have condemned both Liverpool FC and the Premier League after the national anthem was played prior to the Reds’ clash with Brenford on Saturday.
The Premier League strongly advised all clubs to play ‘God Save The King’ prior to their matches this weekend, in honour of the coronation of King Charles III. Well-aware of the supporter-backlash they would receive if they did so, Liverpool reluctantly agreed to play the national anthem, though felt they had been put in an ‘impossible position’.
Reds fans inside Anfield loudly booed and whistled during the playing of ‘God Save The King’, effectively drowning out the playing of the national anthem in the process. Inevitably, they have been criticised in some sections for such a stance, despite their well-documented long-running issues with the establishment, and manager Jurgen Klopp’s reminder that they have freedom of speech.
READ MORE: Liverpool could qualify for Champions League thanks to Man United - but what has to happen next
READ MORE: Arthur Melo speaks out on Jurgen Klopp treatment and confirms Liverpool future
Now Liverpool FC Supporters Union, Spirit of Shankly, have released an official statement condemning both the Premier League and the club, insisting that the national anthem should never have been played as the voiced concerns that outside backlash will lead to increase in taunts about the Hillsborough Disaster and tragedy chanting.
Spirit of Shankly posted 'abdication of leadership by Premier League and Liverpool' on Twitter and the subsequent statement: “The playing of the national anthem before the match at Anfield on Saturday was met with a cacophony of disapproval, boos morphing into chants of Liverpool and eventually, after its abandonment, You’ll Never Walk Alone.
“There will have been some who didn’t voice condemnation, but the majority did. And the Anfield crowd’s reaction will have surprised nobody. So why did the hierarchy of Liverpool FC decide to play it?
“The club were left in a near-impossible situation. There was no mandate from the Premier League, just a “strong suggestion” to play the anthem, and they must bear responsibility too. They are part of a working group to tackle tragedy chanting and have now potentially destroyed the good work done to this point by capitulating to pressure from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport with their “suggestion”.
“So, LFC were damned if they did, damned if they didn’t, but they, with the PL, knew what would happen and and they also knew the consequences - the predictable, hateful bile regarding Hillsborough would be re-ignited all over social media.
“It was hoped that the amazing collective efforts with Nottingham Forest and Leeds supporters over the past few weeks would be the start of a change in attitude from those quick to chant about Hillsborough and other tragedies. Unfortunately, the club’s insistence on playing it will, it seems, lead undoubtedly to an increase in hate chanting in the future.
“Yet again survivors and the families and friends of the 97 people unlawfully killed at Hillsborough area subjected to a despicable backlash.
“There is no logical step to the reprehensible trolling, but everyone connected to LFC knew it would happen. LFC could have and should have made the alternate decision and not played it.”
READ NEXT
Chairman wanted Liverpool to sign 'outrageous' striker Jamie Carragher loves instead of Darwin Nunez
'That's quite rare' - Virgil van Dijk makes Liverpool training ground admission about Mohamed Salah
Jurgen Klopp faces difficult Luis Diaz decision as Liverpool ponder midfield problem
Change Jurgen Klopp did not see coming could unleash Liverpool title challenge next season
Liverpool next fixtures compared to Man United and Newcastle after double Champions League boost
