Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler has apologised over a comment made on BBC radio this morning which appeared to connect the Hillsborough disaster with hooliganism.
In a statement released this afternoon, he said: "This morning while discussing various crises facing football 30 years ago, I referred to some examples including the Hillsborough disaster and also controversy over hooliganism at matches. These are two separate issues. There is no connection at all between the Hillsborough disaster and hooliganism - I know that, and I was not implying that there was. I apologise sincerely and wholeheartedly for any misunderstanding."
Veteran broadcaster Tyler was speaking on the Today show on Radio 4 this morning, on the day the Premier League kicks off again for its 30th campaign.
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Asked for his thoughts looking back to the rebrand of the top flight in 1992, he made comments which many viewed as linking Hillsborough to wider 'hooligan-related issues'.
Tyler, 76, said: "It was very pioneering. We didn't know quite how the [new] structure of the league would work, we certainly didn't know how satellite television as it was called in those days would work. But it was a great adventure. 3,000 live matches later...it does seem that it worked.
"You've got to remember that football was in a bit of a crisis at that time. We weren't that long after Hillsborough, and other hooligan-related issues as well. It was very much a difficult time for the game generally."
After Tyler's comments earlier today, the BBC posted a statement on Twitter which read: "We regret that we did not robustly challenge Martin Tyler on a comment which appeared to link Hillsborough & hooliganism. Martin has since apologised for the comment & clarified that these were separate examples & he did not intend to conflate the two."
It has been categorically shown that Liverpool fans played no part in causing the 1989 tragedy, which claimed the lives of 97 victims. An inquest concluded in 2016 that those supporters were unlawfully killed after a series of failures.
Earlier this morning Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, was among those calling for an apology from Tyler: "Hillsborough and 'OTHER hooligan related incidents'. Exceptionally crass comments from Martin Tyler on @BBCr4today - a man who should know much better.
"Even now, people whose careers are built on football still spread these foul smears. I hope there'll be an apology sharpish. "
And Liverpool Wavertree MP and Reds fan Paula Barker tweeted: "Disgusting comments from Martin Tyler this morning on BBC Radio 4 Today who said 'Hillsborough and OTHER hooligan related incidents' Nobody challenged him!! How can he be allowed to have a career in sports journalism & perpetuate these lies."
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