EPL

Liverpool and Manchester City write to fans in effort to combat 'unacceptable behaviours'

By Sports Desk December 20, 2022

Liverpool and Manchester City have sent a joint statement to fans of both clubs in an attempt to ease tensions.

The chief executives of the Premier League pair wrote a collaborative email to fans ahead of their EFL Cup fourth round tie at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday.

Liverpool and City's rivalry has developed in recent seasons as both teams have competed for league titles and various cups.

The Premier League clash at Anfield in October saw coins thrown at City boss Pep Guardiola by home fans, while City supporters could be heard singing songs related to the Hillsborough disaster in which 97 Liverpool fans were unlawfully killed in 1989.

A meeting was held last month between officials and fan representatives of the clubs in an attempt to mend fences.

As a follow-up, a statement issued to fans on Tuesday by City CEO Ferran Soriano and his Liverpool counterpart Billy Hogan said: "We write to you today on behalf of both Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC, ahead of our Carabao Cup match at the Etihad Stadium later this week.

"As with any meeting between our clubs, it promises to be a fantastic spectacle of football and we are sure that you are all counting down to kick-off with much anticipation following the break in domestic football for the World Cup.

"The passion and enthusiasm that we see from our fans when we play each other – at the Etihad Stadium or Anfield – is part of what makes matches between our clubs so special, and we know you are committed to creating a stadium environment where everyone is welcomed, accepted and has a fantastic matchday experience.

"Regrettably, based on recent meetings between our clubs, we also know that a minority of fans are responsible for behaviours and actions that have no place in our game.

"We are therefore writing to ask for your full support in tackling these behaviours and to ensure that both of our clubs' good names are preserved. You can help us by reporting any incidents via the options at the bottom of this email so they can be investigated.

"We appreciate that some fans may not be aware of the impact of their behaviours on other fans, both inside and outside the stadium, and we will continue to work with our fans on this education.

"It is however important for everyone to be aware that we are fully committed to dealing with unacceptable behaviours and will take action by issuing bans to those found to be responsible.

"We have engaged the chairs from both our respective fan groups in our discussions and have their full backing to help create the right environment for our matches.

"If we all stand together to report the behaviours and actions that cause harm – including inappropriate gestures, chanting, throwing of objects, as well as any and all forms of discrimination – then we can all concentrate on supporting our teams.

"Thank you for taking the time to read this email, and for your commitment to help eliminate unacceptable behaviours in football."

Related items

  • 'I know my worth and I will show it' – Antony vows to silence Man Utd critics 'I know my worth and I will show it' – Antony vows to silence Man Utd critics

    Manchester United winger Antony has pledged to silence his critics after ending his long wait for a Premier League goal on Saturday, saying: "I know my worth and I will show it."

    Antony has struggled since swapping Ajax for Old Trafford in an £86million ($108m) deal last year, only managing five goals and three assists in 52 Premier League appearances.

    The Brazilian failed to net in his first 26 league games this season before ending his goal drought against Burnley on Saturday, though Zeki Amdouni's late penalty earned the Clarets a 1-1 draw.

    Antony was also roundly criticised for taunting Coventry City's players in the aftermath of United's FA Cup semi-final win over the Sky Blues earlier this month, with the Red Devils inching through on penalties after surrendering a 3-0 lead in a 3-3 draw.

    Having struggled to live up to expectations since arriving in England, he was asked by The Athletic whether his price tag had put him under additional pressure, but he says that is not the case.

    "It doesn't really impact me because I know my worth," Antony said. "The money is the money and obviously everyone speaks about it, but no one would if the performances were at the top.

    "It's just a way of working harder, knowing I can get better, I know my worth and I will show it. The critics are going to exist, and they make me want to work harder and prove it to myself first. 

    "I'm going to keep working, giving everything for the group because it's most important to have a good mentality and to be focused."

    Saturday's draw officially ended United's hopes of a top-four finish, heightening speculation regarding the future of manager Erik ten Hag.   

    While Antony accepts United have not been good enough this season, he is hopeful they can end the campaign on a high with another FA Cup final against Manchester City to come.

    "It's been a very tough year for me and the team, the results are not ones we expected," Antony added. 

    "I am someone who takes criticism very well and I want to work on it, and I think we all have to focus on finishing the season the best we can.

    "We still have five games and we have to think game by game, get better and go into the final in the best way possible to win it."

  • Bayer Leverkusen's Puerta sets sights on Copa America Bayer Leverkusen's Puerta sets sights on Copa America

    Gustavo Puerta's first season with Bayer Leverkusen could not have gone any better and the 20-year-old midfielder hopes his experience with the undefeated German side will earn him a place in Colombia's Copa America squad this summer.

    Puerta has made eight appearances this season for Bundesliga champions Leverkusen, who are unbeaten in 46 matches across all competitions under Xabi Alonso.

    Leverkusen will play Roma in the Europa League semi-finals and are also through to the DFB-Pokal final.

    "This year has been wonderful for me and for my career, I hope to keep winning titles and get minutes at the end of the tournament," Puerta, who has made five Bundesliga appearances, told Reuters.

    Puerta enjoyed success with Colombia's under-20 side and has received his first call-up for the national team's friendlies against Spain and Romania in March.

    He hopes to make an impression on coach Nestor Lorenzo with the Copa America on the horizon. The tournament takes place in the United States across June and July.

    "Being in this team with an undefeated run is very important to be considered for the national team if the coach (Lorenzo) thinks I can contribute," he added.

    "We haven't talked much about it, but he told me that he's keeping an eye on me, that he wants to see me play. I hope to get minutes in the end because it is a privilege to be in the national team, I want to wait for the call-up."

    The Colombian added that playing for one of the top 10 teams in the world has not only improved his game but also given him confidence in his abilities.

    "It helps you mature, spending time with great world-class players on a daily basis and training with them is important, they are very experienced and that makes a difference for someone as young as me," he added.

    Puerta said he felt supported by the club and that he would be able to reach his full potential under Alonso.

    "It was historic, very nice, very crazy to have won my first title in one of the top five leagues in Europe," he added.

  • Ederson injury 'doesn't look good', says Guardiola Ederson injury 'doesn't look good', says Guardiola

    Pep Guardiola conceded Ederson's injury "doesn't look good" as Manchester City were forced to wait on the severity of the issue.

    Ederson had to be taken off at half-time during City's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, a victory that took them back to within a point of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.

    The Brazil international needed treatment on an apparent shoulder injury after a collision with Forest defender Willy Boly.

    Ederson was seen with his arm in a sling after full-time at the City Ground.

    And Guardiola said: "It doesn't look good. We will see [on Monday] with the doctor." 

    Stefan Ortega again stepped up in Ederson's absence, with City's number two having performed well when called upon this campaign.

    Ortega has made seven Premier League appearances this season, making 16 saves from 22 shots on target faced, giving him a save percentage of 72.7.

    Ederson, meanwhile, has a save percentage of 67.1, keeping out 53 of the 79 attempts on target he has faced.

    Ortega has a slightly better goals prevented figure of 1.6 compared to Ederson's 1.0.

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.