Manchester United has spoken out to condemn fans for “offensive” chants about the Hillsborough disaster at Anfield.
The two North West rivals faced each other in a Premier League clash at Liverpool’s home ground Anfield on Tuesday evening, and while many headlines were initially grabbed by the emotional seventh-minute tribute by both sets of fans for Cristiano Ronaldo’s newborn son, who tragically passed away, the Manchester club has now had to release a statement addressing supporters’ actions later in the game.
During the match, some Manchester United fans said to have been observed chanting songs aimed at the Hillsborough tragedy, to which the club has deemed “completely unacceptable”.
A statement released by the club addressing the situation reads: “Manchester United stands in solidarity with Liverpool and its fans in remembering the victims of the Hillsborough disaster [and] offensive chants about the tragedy are completely unacceptable.
“We will work with our supporters’ groups to educate fans on the issue.”
97 Liverpool fans tragically lost their lives on 15 April 1989 during a crush at Hillsborough Stadium / Credit: Liverpool FC
The statement released by Manchester United followed what was the 33rd anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster – which saw 97 Liverpool fans lose their lives on 15 April 1989 as a result of a crush on the Leppings Lane terrace during an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest, at the Sheffield stadium.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Hillsborough disaster is known as one of the worst sporting disasters in UK history, and an inquest later ruled that the supporters were unlawfully killed.
Manchester United’s condemning of offensive chants aimed at the Hillsborough disaster come after cross-city rivals Manchester City also had to issue an apology last Saturday after a small section of its fans disturbed a minute’s silence marking the 33rd anniversary of the tragic event during their FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool at Wembley.
“Manchester City are extremely disappointed with the actions of some City supporters during the minute’s silence before today’s game,” a statement by the club read.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The club sincerely apologises to all those connected with Liverpool Football Club.”
We stand with @LFC in remembering the 97 victims of the Hillsborough disaster, 33 years on from that fateful day.
Sending our thoughts and sympathy to the @LFC football family and all those affected on the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster 💙 https://t.co/N0cGeriW2s
Apologies made by both Manchester clubs also come after Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, and Liverpool City Mayor Steve Rotheram, wrote a letter to MPs last week urging them to back the proposed ‘Hillsborough Law’ on the eve of the disaster’s anniversary.
The pair first joined forces at the start of 2022 to back the law that calls for a “fundamental reform” and seeks to support the families of the 97 Liverpool fans who lost their lives, but last week renewed their calls for fairer treatment for those bereaved, and called for changes to the justice system to prevent others going through the same “unnecessary trauma” endured by Hillsborough families.
Full list of road closures set to be in place for Manchester Day 2024
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Day is back for 2024 this weekend, and the full list of road closures set to be in place has been confirmed.
Now that schools are officially out across Greater Manchester, and the summer holidays are well and truly here, the hugely-popular Manchester Day is making a return once again this Saturday 27 July, and as always, it’s set to be “the day summer officially starts” in the city centre – with a massive celebration of “all things Mancunian” on the cards.
The theme of this year’s annual event is ‘Let The Games Begin’, and it’s inspired by the international summer of sport, just 2024 Olympics kicks off over in Paris.
The day will be packed full of free events and activities to get involved with.
Some city centre roads will be closed on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 July for Manchester Day.
These will include:
🛣️Deansgate 🛣️St Ann Street 🛣️St Mary’s Gate 🛣️Market Street 🛣️King Street
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) July 21, 2024
But of course, in order for the all the fun to go ahead as safely as possible, and as tends to be the case for events like these, Manchester City Council says it will need to make some temporary road closures to facilitate it.
The full list of road closures has now been confirmed by the Council, and there’s some major city centre thoroughfares set to be out of action.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Manchester Day is back for 2024 to celebrate the international summer of sport / Credit: Manchester City Council
Manchester Day 2024 – Road Closures
Saturday 27 July
From 6am to 11:59pm, Manchester City Council has confirmed that the following roads will be closed:
Deansgate (Manchester Cathedral to John Dalton Street) – access will be maintained to Marks and Spencer’s car park and Number One Deansgate.
St Ann Street (Deansgate to Cross Street)
St Mary’s Gate (Exchange Street to Deansgate)
St Mary’s Street (Southbridge Street to Deansgate)
Market Street (Exchange Street to Cross Street)
Fennel Street (Corporation Street to Cathedral Street) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cathedral Street (Fennel Street to Exchange Square) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cateaton Street (Exchange Square to Deansgate)
Barton Square (St Ann’s Square to St Ann Street)
King Street (Cross Street to Deansgate) – no access for deliveries.
All accessible bays, bus lanes, and taxi ranks within the closed areas will also be suspended during from 6pm on Friday 26 July to 11:59pm on Saturday 27 July.
The parking suspensions set to be in place are:
Deansgate (Manchester Cathedral to John Dalton Street)
St Ann Street – including the bays outside St Ann’s Church (Deansgate to Cross Street)
St Mary’s Gate (Exchange Street to Deansgate)
St Mary’s Street (Southbridge Street to Deansgate)
Southgate (St Mary’s Street to King Street West)
Market Street (Exchange Street to Cross Street)
Fennel Street (Corporation Street to Cathedral Street) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cathedral Street (Fennel Street to Exchange Square) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cateaton Street (Exchange Square to Deansgate)
Victoria Street (Cathedral Approach to Deansgate)
Todd Street (Corporation Street to Station Approach)
King Street (Spring Gardens to Southgate)
South King Street (Ridgefield to Deansgate)
Barton Square (St Ann’s Square to St Ann Street)
King Street West (Deansgate to St Mary’s Parsonage)
St James’s Square (John Dalton Street to South King Street)
Cross Street (King Street to Corporation Street)
Museum Street (Peter Street to Windmill Street)
Marsden Street (Cheapside to Brown Street)
Manchester Day 2024: Let The Games Begin! will take over the city centre on Saturday 27 July from 12pm-6pm.
Check out everything you need to know ahead of the event here.
‘Complex’ Metrolink repairs to the Rochdale via Oldham line could take weeks to complete
Emily Sergeant
Work currently underway on the Rochdale via Oldham line is expected to take several weeks to complete.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed that land movement affecting the Metrolink network near Derker has now “slowed”, and this means that detailed ground investigations and temporary repair works have been able to get underway.
In order for trams to run again on the crucial line from the city centre to the two major Greater Manchester towns, TfGM says that a small section of track has to be moved back – also known as ‘slewed’ – into its original position.
The overhead line poles also need to be repaired too, the transport operator revealed.
Rochdale line update
Land movement affecting the Metrolink network near Derker has slowed, enabling detailed ground investigations and temporary repair works to get underway.
To get trams running again, a small section of track has to be moved back into its original position… pic.twitter.com/byERjitdi1
Unfortunately though, due to the “complex” nature of these works, and despite the fact that TfGM says it’s actively looking to “accelerate” the repairs, the project is expected to take up to five weeks to complete in full.
On top of this, the detailed ground investigations will also establish whether any further work to strengthen foundations beneath the track will be needed at a later date.
TfGM has apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers.
‘Complex’ Metrolink repairs to the Rochdale via Oldham line could take weeks to complete / Credit: TfGM
Speaking on the scale of works currently underway, and how long he expects them to continue for, Pete Sommers, who is TfGM’s Network Director for Metrolink, said: “I’m sorry for the impact this is having, and will continue to have, on people’s journeys.
“We are working to get trams running through the area again, but this remains a complex and challenging issue and it could still be a few weeks before this happens.
“We will of course keep passengers updated, and I’d encourage people to check our social media channels and website for the latest information and advice.”