Luton Town Football Club has taken a firm stance against supporters who engaged in inappropriate chanting during the recent match with Liverpool at Kenilworth Road. The Football Association (FA) has requested further information from the police regarding these chants, which indirectly referenced past tragedies, including the Hillsborough disaster.

In a statement, Luton expressed their disappointment, acknowledging that a small number of fans had marred the occasion with chants related to past tragedies affecting Liverpool FC. The club’s safety and security team promptly initiated an internal investigation, warning that individuals responsible for these chants could face stadium bans and even potential criminal charges. Luton is reviewing CCTV footage, media coverage, and speaking to witnesses to identify those involved.

Luton’s statement also suggested that some fans may not have realized the full meaning of the words they used. However, this aspect of the statement has not been well-received by Liverpool. Follow your favourite Premier League team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet. 

The club issued an apology to rival fans, saying, “On behalf of all at Luton Town, we would like to wholeheartedly apologize to anyone offended by the chants heard during yesterday’s match.”

The FA has requested observations from both Luton and the police following the incident, which occurred during a 1-1 draw between Luton and Liverpool. The chants, which were heard from a section of home supporters in the second half, were strongly condemned by Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp and former captain Jamie Carragher.

Liverpool, which has been actively working with fans’ groups from other clubs on educating supporters about the harm of tragedy-related chants, has also reached out to Luton to inquire about the actions they plan to take in response to the incident.

The FA issued a statement on Monday, condemning such chants and reaffirming its commitment to addressing this issue proactively. Tragedy-related chanting in football matches has been a growing concern, and the Premier League has taken measures to combat it, including potential stadium bans and criminal prosecution for those involved.

The incident occurred during a highly charged match shortly after half-time while the game was still goalless. While both Klopp and Luton manager Rob Edwards claimed not to have heard the chants, Klopp expressed his disapproval, saying, “Shame on everyone who said it.”

Jamie Carragher, a pundit for Sky Sports at the match, criticized the Luton supporters, emphasizing that mocking a tragedy like the Hillsborough disaster, in which 97 Liverpool fans lost their lives in 1989, goes too far. Carragher remarked, “As supporters, you’ve got to have rivalry, there is no doubt. But we’re better than that.” He called for a higher standard of behavior in today’s world.

The incident underscores the ongoing challenge of addressing inappropriate chanting and maintaining respect within the football community. The football authorities in England are committed to eradicating such behavior through education and, if necessary, legal action. Get the latest updates from the Premier League only on Nextbet Sports.