Three Man United fans arrested for vile Hillsborough chants before Premier League match against Liverpool… with another supporter thrown out of Anfield by stewards

Police arrested three Manchester United fans for singing vile chants about the Hillsborough disaster as they made their way to Anfield before the game against Liverpool last month.

A 21-year-old man from Wells in Somerset, a 20-year-old man from Locking in Somerset and a 25-year-old man from Gloucester were arrested ‘under the public order act in relation to tragedy chanting’, Merseyside Police said.

The incident occurred outside of Anfield ahead of the match on December 17. The three men have been released under investigation and are awaiting a charging decision.

‘We can confirm that three people have been arrested in connection with offensive behaviour. Their actions were not reflective of the overwhelming majority of fans of both clubs,’ said chief superintendent Mark Wiggins.

In a separate incident, a United supporter was thrown out of Anfield by stewards in the second half of the 0-0 draw for ‘saying a word relating to a tragedy’.

Rival bosses Erik ten Hag and Jurgen Klopp urged fans to stop chanting about tragedies

The fan, who strongly denies the allegation, has since launched an appeal for witnesses through his lawyers, Football Law Associates.

They have asked United supporters who may have witnessed the incident, which occurred close to the segregation between the two sets of fans in the lower tier of the Anfield Road end, to come forward to corroborate his account.

‘Some Manchester United supporters reacted to the removal of their fellow supporter so we know it came to the attention of a number of people,’ the appeal said.

‘The allegation may result in prosecution so he needs to identify any potential witnesses who could assist in establishing his innocence.’

The incidents came despite United reiterating comments from Erik ten Hag and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp prior to the game, which urged supporters of both clubs to stop chanting about tragedies.

Authorities have launched a crackdown on tragedy chanting, and fans who sing about disasters including Hillsborough and Munich can be arrested and issued with banning orders.

Earlier this month, police detained two Millwall supporters after they appeared to mock the death of former Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. Footage on social media showed two fans making helicopter gestures, a reference to Srivaddhanaprabha’s death in a helicopter crash back in 2018.

A 20-year-old man from Solihull was also arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after a TV was smashed onto the floor in the away end at Anfield.

Liverpool and United declined to comment.