The protests on Anfield Road were muted compared to those by
several hundred Arsenal fans outside Emirates Stadium on Friday ahead of its
game against Everton. The sentiments were similar, however, with club owners
the targets of criticism.
“£nough is £nough FSG Out” and “Henry, You have blood on
your hands,” were the words on some of the banners, referencing Fenway Sports
Group and principal owner John Henry.
There were around 150 Liverpool fans outside the stadium and
they greeted the players and management with warm applause as the team bus
arrived at Anfield.
That highlighted the separation supporters were making
between the owners of England’s so-called “Big Six” clubs who were behind the
Super League, and the rest of the club.
“The part I have struggled with is seeing this club, a place
I love and am now proud to call my home, trashed — and done so in a manner
which suggests no redemption is possible. That I can’t take,” Klopp said in his
notes in the matchday program.
“It was right to take apart the concept and it was fair to
criticize it, along with those who came up with it and also how it was
presented. All legitimate in my view. The anger and disappointment was
justified but there were times when the distinction between ‘club’ and this
decision (and yes, those responsible for it) were too quickly blurred into
one.”
Chelsea is among the clubs that attempted the breakaway and
more protests are expected before its game against West Ham later Saturday.
A statement published late Friday by Chelsea expressed
“regret” at members of its hierarchy getting involved in the Super League
proposals, though there was no apology.
It promised to involve supporters in any future discussions
about “new mechanisms or structures” and to “safeguard fan representation in
the club’s work.”
“The club does ask, however, that this dialogue is conducted
in a respectful way,” the Chelsea statement said. “The abuse which some club
representatives have been the target of over the past few days is not
acceptable.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment