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Eschew personal hatred, Fergie tells fans
Source: Agencies |
September 23, 2012, Sunday
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MANAGER Alex Ferguson has written to Manchester United fans attending today's match against Liverpool, urging them not to let the rivalry between the clubs turn into "personal hatred".
The English Premier League match is the first between the two fierce rivals since the publication last week of an independent report into the Hillsborough stadium disaster which exonerated Liverpool fans of any blame in the 1989 tragedy that claimed 96 lives.
Today's occasion is likely to be highly emotional with players and staff having urged fans all week to show each other respect.
In Ferguson's letter, which will be handed to away fans entering Anfield, he says United "stands with our great neighbors Liverpool".
"Our rivalry with Liverpool is based on a determination to come out on top - a wish to see us crowned the best against a team that held that honor for so long," he adds.
"It cannot and should never be based on personal hatred. Just 10 days ago we heard the terrible, damning truth about the deaths of 96 fans who went to watch their team try and reach the FA Cup final and never came back," said Ferguson. "What happened to them should wake the conscience of everyone connected with the game."
An anti-Liverpool chant of 'it's never your fault, always the victims' was heard from some quarters at Old Trafford last weekend in United's 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic.
Some United fans said those chants did not refer to Hillsborough but to the fallout from the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra race row last season.
Liverpool forward Suarez was banned for eight matches for racially abusing United defender Evra at Anfield in October.
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler suggested Evra and Suarez should lay floral tributes before today's game to mark the tragedies both clubs have suffered.
Fowler told BBC radio it would be appropriate for the pair to help defuse the tension by showing unity before kickoff.
"It would be nice for Luis Suarez to put some flowers at the United end regarding the 1958 Munich air crash and for Patrice Evra to do so at the Kop," Fowler said.
Eight United players and three club staff were among 23 people killed in Munich.
The English Premier League match is the first between the two fierce rivals since the publication last week of an independent report into the Hillsborough stadium disaster which exonerated Liverpool fans of any blame in the 1989 tragedy that claimed 96 lives.
Today's occasion is likely to be highly emotional with players and staff having urged fans all week to show each other respect.
In Ferguson's letter, which will be handed to away fans entering Anfield, he says United "stands with our great neighbors Liverpool".
"Our rivalry with Liverpool is based on a determination to come out on top - a wish to see us crowned the best against a team that held that honor for so long," he adds.
"It cannot and should never be based on personal hatred. Just 10 days ago we heard the terrible, damning truth about the deaths of 96 fans who went to watch their team try and reach the FA Cup final and never came back," said Ferguson. "What happened to them should wake the conscience of everyone connected with the game."
An anti-Liverpool chant of 'it's never your fault, always the victims' was heard from some quarters at Old Trafford last weekend in United's 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic.
Some United fans said those chants did not refer to Hillsborough but to the fallout from the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra race row last season.
Liverpool forward Suarez was banned for eight matches for racially abusing United defender Evra at Anfield in October.
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler suggested Evra and Suarez should lay floral tributes before today's game to mark the tragedies both clubs have suffered.
Fowler told BBC radio it would be appropriate for the pair to help defuse the tension by showing unity before kickoff.
"It would be nice for Luis Suarez to put some flowers at the United end regarding the 1958 Munich air crash and for Patrice Evra to do so at the Kop," Fowler said.
Eight United players and three club staff were among 23 people killed in Munich.
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