A Liverpool MP and Hillsborough survivor has called for education on the disaster to be added to the curriculum in Greater Manchester after a minute’s silence at Wembley was disrupted.
Ian Byrne, Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby, has written to Manchester City after a number of the club’s fans disrupted a minute's silence in memory of Hillsborough victims. The incident took place before the FA Cup semi final between Liverpool and City at the weekend - a game which fell one day after the 33rd anniversary of Hillsborough.
A group of City fans chanted throughout the minute's silence in memory of the 97 victims of the tragedy. The Liverpool end - and many City supporters - were outraged, with referee Michael Oliver being forced to cut short the period of remembrance.
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City released a strong statement on the day condemning the action of the minority of supporters and offered an apology to Liverpool FC. In his letter shared on social media, Mr Byrne said it was “extremely upsetting to witness” the “disheartening behaviour of some fans during the minute’s silence” and said those responsible had engaged in “blatant disrespect”.
Addressing the club hierarchy at Manchester City, Mr Byrne said: “In my capacity as Member of Parliament for Liverpool West Derby constituency and as a Hillsborough survivor, I am leading on an initiative called The Real Truth Legacy Project. Working with Hillsborough survivors and some of the families of the 97 fans who lost their lives due to the disaster, we aim to educate current and future generations about what really happened at the disaster, and about the subsequent cover-up and the long fight for justice.”
Manchester City Fans Foodbank Support group have also written to the club calling for them to back the campaign for a Hillsborough Law - and to show support for the Real Truth Legacy Project. Mr Byrne, who also sent the letter to Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester and campaigner for the Hillsborough Law, said he was keen “to turn this extremely negative experience into something positive for all concerned.”
He said: “Considering the events on Saturday during the minute’s silence to mark the 33rd anniversary of the anniversary of Hillsborough, I am writing to you to invite Manchester City Football Club to collaborate with me and the Real Truth Legacy Project to have education about Hillsborough added to the curriculum in the Greater Manchester region. It is only through providing education and teaching the facts about what happened on 15 April 1989 and afterwards that we will be able to put a stop to the disgraceful behaviour of some fans.
“I would like nothing more than to work with you to turn this extremely negative experience into something positive for all concerned.”
