Football police's alcohol tragedy link 'sickening', MP says

An MP has criticised a football policing organisation over comments, he said, linked the Hillsborough disaster to the debate over alcohol restrictions at matches.

Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne described a statement from the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) as "appalling", after it referenced the Taylor Report and football-related tragedies while discussing whether fans should be allowed to drink alcohol in view of the pitch.

The UKFPU had been responding to Prime Minister Andy Burnham's suggestion that the ban on drinking alcohol in football stands could be reviewed.

The policing body has since issued a further statement saying it had not intended to link alcohol with Hillsborough.

Ninety-seven fans died as a result of the crush at an FA cup semi-final at the Hillsborough ground in Sheffield.

The Taylor Report came out of the 1990 judicial inquiry into the 1989 disaster.

After a 27-year campaign by victims' families, the behaviour of Liverpool fans was exonerated and new inquests concluded those who died were unlawfully killed.

In response to Burnham's suggestion on Thursday that the ban on alcohol in football stands could be changed, police chiefs warned against relaxing the law.

A UKFPU spokesperson said alcohol often played "a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour" among a minority of football supporters.

They added: "Following a number of football-related tragedies, changes in legislation were implemented after the Taylor Report for good reason and we are currently in the longest ever period without a significant football related disaster."

Byrne said those comments were "sickening" and risked making an association between Hillsborough and alcohol.

Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, he said: "It's absolutely appalling.

"I mean, if I'm honest, it's sickening that every time something like this raises its head, you get a statement from the police which sets us back.

"It's as if they just cannot accept the truth."

The Labour MP also criticised the statement's reference to legislative changes being introduced after the Taylor Report, noting the legal ban on drinking alcohol in view of the pitch was introduced in 1985, four years before the Hillsborough disaster and Lord Justice Taylor's subsequent inquiry.

He said: "They've made links which are completely untrue.

"In 1985 they banned alcohol at football games, but they've made the connection."

The Football Supporters' Association (FSA) also criticised the wording.

In a statement posted on X, the organisation said: "The UK Football Policing Unit's comments bringing Hillsborough into this debate have to be corrected.

"The disaster was not caused by alcohol. Full stop."

Following criticism, the UKFPU issued a further statement saying it had not intended to link alcohol with Hillsborough.

A spokesperson said: "It was not our intention to link the issue of alcohol with the Hillsborough tragedy.

"The laws around alcohol, which we acknowledge were first introduced in 1985, are one of a range of measures in addition to the subsequent Taylor report recommendations that have contributed to making football much safer for fans in this country."

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