Liverpool fans condemned.

[Guest mick the baker]

Liverpool supporters condemned for attacking Smith ambulance

 

Daniel Taylor

Thursday February 23, 2006

The Guardian

 

 

The reputation of Liverpool fans took another pummelling last night when it was revealed that the ambulance taking Alan Smith to hospital had come under attack outside Anfield. Supporters surrounded the vehicle while throwing missiles and shouting "Munich scum" in reference to the plane crash that killed 23 people, including eight Manchester United players, in 1958.

Bottles, beer glasses and stones were hurled as the ambulance became stuck in heavy traffic after Saturday's FA Cup tie. Witnesses also claim the ambulance was rocked as some Liverpool followers tried to overturn it. A spokesman for the Merseyside ambulance trust confirmed the attack and condemned the people responsible. "It did not result in any delay in transferring the player to hospital . . . but the trust cannot condone this type of behaviour while administering emergency treatment."

 

 

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The two paramedics - both Liverpool fans - have been described as "horrified" by what the trust described as the "hostility" once supporters realised Smith was in the ambulance with United's doctor Mike Stone. The vehicle was described as being rocked from side to side as drinkers rushed out of the King Harry pub, some apparently with the intention of turning the vehicle on its side.

"These people aren't real fans of football," United and Liverpool said in a joint statement last night. "Both clubs feel the mindless actions of a few idiots should not overshadow the efforts of all involved to make sure Alan received the best possible treatment as soon as possible. Manchester United would also like to point out they are very grateful for the speedy and efficient help of all Liverpool staff."

 

Smith had been given a general anaesthetic inside the stadium and therefore did not know what had happened until he came round. Having already suffered a broken leg and a badly dislocated ankle, injuries which Sir Alex Ferguson described as "some of the worst I've ever seen", he has subsequently been informed that he had a lucky escape. He has been transferred to a private hospital in Manchester and is understood to have sent the paramedics his United shirt for their courage in such difficult circumstances.

 

It also emerged yesterday that several United supporters have written to Liverpool to complain that home supporters in the Anfield Road end had thrown paper cups containing excrement into the away section below them. "I consider this to be the most disgusting thing that I've seen in over 40 years of attending professional football matches," says one of the letters addressed to Ged Poynton, Anfield's stadium manager.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mindless,no true red would steep that low.

[Scally the Wag]

Someone deserves hanging if this is true...

 

Hadn't come across any other reports... But then I'm not living locally.

[Guest mick the baker]

How would you know who was in an ambulance,they are normally blacked out windows.

[Tosh]

Throwing anything at any ambulance is wrong....

 

Shame on those that did this.

[John Barnes Testicles]

b******s should be lynched

[magneto]

I thought ticket prices nowadays prevented scum (from both sides) entering Football stadiums.

[DanielS]

I thought ticket prices nowadays prevented scum (from both sides) entering Football stadiums.

 

So only poor people are badly behaved?

[meredithmathieson]

Alas, this whole story is true (Source = Cousin's wifes Dad, who is a paramedic and was on duty at the match. His mate drove the ambulance).

 

The ironic thing is that the Police wouldn't provide an escort for the ambulance because of the big mob waiting for the Mancs at The King Harry, and it was part of this mob who did the ambulance.

 

The ambulance is that badly wrecked it's off the road now.

 

Took us back to the 1980s in so many ways, I think, last Saturday.

[Andythered]

I thought ticket prices nowadays prevented scum (from both sides) entering Football stadiums.

 

 

I thought it was down to cctv and better policing in grounds. Only knobheads think that the less well off cause all the trouble. Look up some stories of those police operations arresting known trouble making gangs over the years. Most had decent jobs. Mass generalisations dont do anyone any favours.

[RP]

Amongst others, the Gary Neville Factor has to be looked at.

[DanielS]

Amongst others, the Gary Neville Factor has to be looked at.

 

The morons on both sides would exist without "the Gary Neville factor", but I think that if you are suggesting he gave an excuse for stupidity above and beyond the norm I agree wholeheartedly.

[Pam]

The morons on both sides would exist without "the Gary Neville factor", but I think that if you are suggesting he gave an excuse for stupidity above and beyond the norm I agree wholeheartedly.

 

he didn't stand outside the King Harry and direct Liverpool fans to attack an ambulance - people need to take some responsibiilty for their own actions.

[DanielS]

he didn't stand outside the King Harry and direct Liverpool fans to attack an ambulance - people need to take some responsibiilty for their own actions.

 

...and I suggested that they shouldn't? The tiny minority of fans who follow us who are moronic enough to do that kind of thing don't need much of an excuse to be stupid, but Neville provided it. Otherwise it would have just been the typical hate-fest we usually get against that lot, but without the extra edge there was on Saturday.

[AE]

he didn't stand outside the King Harry and direct Liverpool fans to attack an ambulance - people need to take some responsibiilty for their own actions.

 

 

Agree with that, but his actions 'fanned the flames'.

Unfortunately it would seem we have seen an escalation in the 'grudges' between the two sets of fans this years, first, Best, then Neville and now Smith.... while the media are happy to poor on the petrol.

Hopefully it will calm down a bit in time for next season.

[elmer dinkley]

I went to Goodison and Old Trafford in the eighties and dodged coins, s***, piss, all kinds would get thrown from the home fans above us. I've seen some bad things but I don't ever recall an ambulance getting attacked. It's f***ing embarrassing.

[fred milne]

Its indefensible.

[magneto]

So only poor people are badly behaved?

 

No not only poor people.

 

But the less-educated tend to earn less.

 

Sorry if I came across in the wrong manner..its not my intention to insult.

[Dan]

No not only poor people.

 

But the less-educated tend to earn less.

 

Sorry if I came across in the wrong manner..its not my intention to insult.

 

I think you'll find that many football hooligans are educated and hold down a 'normal' job.

[slapnuts]

Fecking idiots, they would be the first to moan if it were them in the ambulance.

 

Gary Neville still belives he has done no wrong the fecking idiot.

[fred milne]

Gary Neville is irrelevant to this thread.

[Falconhoof]

I feel so ashamed. Absolutely gutted about this.

 

Its a shame there is no balance though. The events around Old Trafford every year that go unreported, would offer absolutely no justification, but would show that its not just Liverpool fans who have their idiot fringe.

[kop205]

No not only poor people.

 

But the less-educated tend to earn less.

 

Sorry if I came across in the wrong manner..its not my intention to insult.

 

No, I think we understood you perfectly well and it is incredibly insulting.

 

I am more than aware myself of people who comfortably earn enough to attend the games and hold down what would be considered very middle class jobs (jobs for which they need a university education) and yet pride themselves on being 'hard cases' who still get involved in and actively seek out confrontation.

 

It was just a ridiculous comment to make and I wouldn't even try to defend it to be honest.

 

As for the incident itself, it is disgusting. But, as with the Alan Smith songs, if we are going to be criticised for it then let it be as part of opening up a wider deabte about what has been going on at these games. How aware are the national media of what happens every time we go to Old Trafford in terms of being attacked leaving the away end and s*** and piss being thrown (according to people who have been to a number of games there)?

 

Unless this is really opened up, the situation will just get worse and I honestly think there will be a serious injury at one of these games soon. Their knobheads will use what went on at Anfield to justify worse attacks on us, just as our knobheads used the 'Neville factor' and various other things to justify their behaviour, and so it will continue.

[RP]

Gary Neville is irrelevant to this thread.

 

He is not at all.

 

He has helped to fan the flames. He is not exclusively 'to blame' but he is one of the factors to be considered when wondering why feelings were running quite so high on Saturday.

 

Not an excuse, but part of the reason.

[dodgy1]

No not only poor people.

 

But the less-educated tend to earn less.

 

Sorry if I came across in the wrong manner..its not my intention to insult.

 

you just come across as an absolute w***** mate.

Edited February 23, 2006 by dodgy1

[magneto]

you just come across as an absolute w***** mate.

 

I thank yew.