Football supporters are renowned for being devoted and going over and above to support their team. But, some in the crowd believe in chanting about the opposition’s unfortunate events.
Liverpool and Manchester United have jointly denounced songs about the two teams’ tragedies prior to their Premier League match. It states that it is “unacceptable” and “time for it to end,” according to managers Jürgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag. Why then do supporters persist in doing it despite being asked — or even pleaded with — by their own clubs not to?
What is ‘tragedy chanting’?
It occurs when crowds sing egregiously offensive songs that make reference to tragedies that have occurred in stadiums or to player or fan fatalities. Despite being strongly disapproved of by all participants in the game, it has long been a staple of football culture. And in 2023, it still occurs.
When Leeds United played Manchester United in the Premier League last month, both teams’ fans were attacked. During the game, the opposing fans traded shouts regarding the Munich air tragedy and the 2000 murders of two Leeds fans in Istanbul.
Why would fans do that?
‘Tragedy chanting,’ according to sports and performance psychology coach Sarah Majid, has a number of causes.
“A lot of it is alcohol, when you’re drunk and you’re insensitive you don’t really realize what you’re doing,” she tells BBC Newsbeat.
“If people were sober and they were in a football stadium, I don’t think they would be doing them.”
She believes that some supporters are blinded by their devotion to their team.
“I want my team to win. I’m going to do anything possible if they’re losing,” Sarah says.
Some supporters, she claims, will argue that “the whole purpose of sport is to be competitive” if they chant the unpleasant lyrics.
What does it sound like when tragedy chants?
The Hillsborough disaster is a popular topic of tragedy chanting in addition to the Munich air disaster. In Sheffield’s Hillsborough stadium in April 1989, a crush caused 97 Liverpool fans to pass away. Reds fan Ste Hoare is a regular at Anfield and says “there’s a real fury and anger” when he hears those songs from opponent fans.
“It’s just pure tribalism,” he tells Newsbeat.
“I should be able to take my eight-year-old son to a football game without him having to ask me ‘Daddy, why are they calling me a murderer?’
“Literally I’ve had that exact conversation with my son. That’s really difficult to have to do that.”
The Redmen TV’s Ste, the head of operations, claims that the phrase “feed the Scousers” is frequently chanted by the audience.
“The whole country’s in a cost of living crisis and you’re mocking poor people. It’s all just a bit grim.”
Can clubs put an end to chants?
The detrimental effects of “tragedy chanting” have caused teams to respond, with some initiating educational initiatives to warn supporters of the repercussions.
“We had an issue at Liverpool where there was a homophobic chant being sung,” Ste says.
He claims that it caused the team to launch a successful campaign, in which manager Jürgen Klopp played a significant role and informed supporters that it is unacceptable.
She believes it’s crucial for fans to “self-police” and hold one another responsible for their actions.
Clubs, in Sarah’s opinion, should “take a stronger stand as to what’s allowed and not allowed in their stadiums and have more security guards around,” she says.
“There should be a limit on how much you can drink in a football stadium. Because if you’re completely drunk out of your mind, you’re just going to do whatever.
“It’s not a nightclub, it’s a football stadium.”
Clubs have said what?
Following a recent Premier League match, Manchester United and Leeds both “seriously condemned” the chanting.
Both teams agreed that the behavior of the fans was “absolutely unacceptable” a joint statement.
After Manchester City supporters yelled about tragedies at stadiums during a game against Liverpool in October, manager Pep Guardiola issued an apology.
Manchester United also criticized supporters who made references to the Hillsborough tragedy in April.
Campaigner for Hillsborough Margaret Aspinall earlier warned the BBC that authorities needed to take “drastic action” to prevent it from happening.
The Premier League has frequently criticized the chanting, saying it’s handling the issue “as a priority and as a matter of urgency”.