The dad of a 15-year-old girl who was struck by a pint cup 'weighed down by coins' at a football match says she will be 'scarred for life'. The teenager was attending the Manchester City vs Liverpool Carabao Cup clash at the time of the incident.
The Manchester Evening News reports the girl has received an 'unreserved' apology from Liverpool FC's chief executive. He said the club is 'as committed as we are to rooting this individual out of football.'
The girl, 15, was hit on the head by the hard plastic, reusable beer cup which was full of liquid and had a number of coins inside shortly after Liverpool's first equaliser. It happened 20 minutes into the tie last Thursday, December 22, which City won 3-2.
She had to be rushed to the Etihad Stadium medical centre after the missile, said to have been thrown from the section containing the approximately 5,500 Liverpool fans, directly above where the girl was sat with her family in the second tier of the South Stand, shattered on impact.
She reportedly suffered a gash to the head, which had to be glued back together. Greater Manchester Police confirmed the force is investigating the issue.
The girl's father has now launched an emotional appeal for anyone with information to come forward. The 47-year-old from the Peak District said his daughter has been left both physically and emotionally scarred by what happened.
He posted pictures of the shattered cup as well as the blood-stained blue and white City scarf as he urged anyone with information that may help police to come forward. In a post on social media, he said: "My 15-year-old daughter was hit by a weighted pint pot thrown from the 'LFC section' of fans at The Etihad during Manchester City vs Liverpool last Thursday.
"The pot 'smashed' on impact, she suffered a head injury and was 'glued' at the ground before being released later that evening. The incident occurred about 20 mins in, just after Liverpool's first equaliser. We think it was probably thrown from block 318 as we were directly below this block.
"We are meeting officials at Manchester City Football Club this week and are asking for any information that could help us identify the thrower. The police took statements, are keen to pursue and will press charges if we can identify the culprit."
"I am hoping if it's spread far and wide a memory may be jogged somewhere," he continued. "There were in excess of 50,000 people present.
"If you were at the match... or know someone who was. Was it near you? Where were they located? Do you know who it is? Have you seen any clips on social?"
The dad said Liverpool's chief executive, Billy Hogan, had telephoned him to apologise. And he said he condemned all incidents and offensive chanting at that game or any other game.
"We have had a call from LFC directly (Billy Hogan) who apologised unreservedly on behalf of the club and I would like to stress they are as committed as we are to rooting this individual out of football and for them to face the consequences of their actions.2
He added: "Please don't come at me with whataboutery. I completely condemn any incidents of violence from any football fans and any offensive chanting by fans of either side.
"She is a 15-year-old who was enjoying watching her team with the rest of her family and she is now scarred for life. I would like to thank the dozens of Liverpool Football Club fans who have contacted us so far with kind messages of support in finding the perpetrator and also all friends and contacts who have been in touch.
"I am a Dad seeking justice for his injured daughter, that is all. All information gratefully received."
Following the incident, the dad told the M.E.N. he believed his daughter could have been killed. "Someone has got beer into the stands, then filled it with coins and wanged [threw] it," he said.
"It just came from nowhere. And the sound it made was something I will never forget. I have never experienced anything like it in my life. It was a mixture of anger and worry at the same time in unbearable quantities."
"She was obviously physically but also emotionally hurt by it," he added. "But in a way, I feel she got off relatively lightly. It was horrible. Yet it's no exaggeration to say that it could have killed her. That's the crux of it."
He also praised the 'overwhelming' response of City fans after revealing what had happened on social media. Following the match, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed they were investigating the incident.
As well as the incident involving the girl, GMP said they were aware of a 'number of objects' being thrown during the game. A 53-year-old man, understood to be a City fan, was also taken to hospital after being assaulted after the game at the junction of Ashton New Road and Alan Turing Way.
Reports have also claimed that disabled Liverpool supporters were subjected to racial abuse during the fixture, with a City supporter arrested and an investigation launched. GMP confirmed a man has been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.
The day after the game match commander, Superintendent Gareth Parkin said: "We are aware of a number of objects, including coins and a smoke bomb, that were thrown during the match. We will be investigating the incidents and reviewing CCTV from the night. Clearly throwing objects in a confined area can be dangerous, and have serious and sometimes devastating consequences.
"GMP sends its thoughts and wishes to the girl who was injured and wish her a speedy recovery."
In a joint statement, the two clubs said: "Manchester City FC, Liverpool FC and the chairs from our supporter groups have worked together in recent weeks to remind fans of our expectations and both clubs would like to thank the vast majority of fans for their behaviour at last night’s Carabao Cup match at the Etihad Stadium. It is however hugely disappointing that there were a number of incidents during last night’s match that are wholly unacceptable.
"These incidents will be fully investigated, reported to the police and the individuals who are found to be responsible will be subject to the sanction process of their respective club. Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC are fully committed to working together to eradicate these issues from our fixtures. They have no place in football."
