Merseyside Police Arrest Nine for Alleged Offensive Chanting During Premier League Match

Liverpool vs Manchester City (image via Getty)

Nine individuals have been arrested in connection with tragic chanting that occurred during Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday. Merseyside Police confirmed the arrests at Anfield, identifying the suspects as a diverse group of men from different parts of the UK. The individuals arrested include a 38-year-old from Audenshaw, a 32-year-old from Macclesfield, a 52-year-old from Denton, a 57-year-old from Failsworth, a 58-year-old from Rochdale, a 47-year-old from Rochdale, a 53-year-old from Manchester, a 19-year-old from Medlar-with-Wesham, Lancashire, and a 28-year-old from Prestwich, who was also arrested on suspicion of common assault.

Liverpool vs Manchester City (image via Getty)

Out of the nine individuals arrested, six have been granted bail, two were discharged after attending voluntarily, and one person has been formally charged. The 19-year-old from Medlar-with-Wesham, Kian Holt, has been charged with a public order offense under Section 3 of the Football Offences Act 1991, specifically for engaging in tragedy chanting. He is scheduled to appear at Sefton Magistrates Court on January 8.

This incident follows a broader trend of increased efforts by Premier League clubs to address the issue of tragedy-related chanting in football. In June, all Premier League teams agreed on new measures aimed at tackling this issue. A key element of these efforts is ensuring that offenders face criminal prosecution, signaling a strong commitment from the footballing authorities to eliminate such behavior from the stands. The rise in tragic chanting at football matches has led to increased scrutiny and a push for stricter enforcement of the law, with this latest incident highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by clubs and law enforcement in curbing such conduct.

By Alfie Culshaw

Alfie Cairns Culshaw is a football journalist covering the Premier League for Liverpool News. He joined the company in May 2024 and is an avid Arsenal fan and season ticket holder. Previously, Alfie worked for SportBible, focusing on Liverpool and Manchester United, covering transfers, match reports, previews, and more. He also creates YouTube content discussing Arsenal in depth and provides tactical insights and analysis on his weekly podcasts. In addition to his work with SportBible, Alfie has built an Arsenal blog with over 59,000 followers on Instagram and regular readers to his website. He has produced video content for CheekySport and written for The Football Faithful. Known for his level-headed approach, Alfie combines his passion as a fan with data-led analysis. You can contact him at [email protected].

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