Salford’s Member of Parliament, Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, is backing GMB Union’s call to crack down on tragedy chanting.

Tragedy chanting is when football fans engage in offensive chants or songs that reference fatal accidents or stadium disasters involving fans, players, or officials of rival clubs.

Rebecca said, “I’m proud to back GMB’s campaign to crack down on tragedy chanting. A healthy rivalry on the pitch is to be expected but hearing offensive chants or songs that reference fatal accidents or stadium disasters should shock us all.

“This isn’t ‘political correctness gone mad’, it’s about human solidarity that puts aside team colours and respects those victims and their families who are no longer with us.

“Let’s enjoy football the proper way, and not use it as an excuse to abuse rival fans about Hillsborough, the Munich Air disaster, or any other historic tragedy.”

A Respect Pledge

GMB is encouraging all football clubs sign up to GMB Union’s Respect Pledge where, prior to matches, all football clubs reiterate a zero-tolerance policy on tragedy chanting, reminding spectators of the legal consequences and to encourage a “hear it, report it” approach where fans can have the confidence that reporting tragedy chanting to stewards and police will result in action being taken. All clubs should remind spectators they have the power to issue longer, if not lifetime bans to spectators found guilty.

Part of the pledge is for all football clubs to hold regular events in local schools and colleges to educate primary, secondary, and sixth-form college pupils about the impact tragedy chanting has towards the surviving victims of accidents or disasters, and the relatives of those who sadly lost their lives. We need to break the generational cycle on this and educate communities in respect, and an understanding of the impact their words have.

The English FA released a charter, ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, which aims to improve behaviour across football which included a commitment to address and punish tragedy chanting. This saw ground regulations being updated to incorporate references to tragedy chanting, widening the scope for punishment.

In February 2024, Manchester United and Liverpool announced that their own foundations launched a joint programme to tackle tragedy chanting. This saw Greater Manchester Police (GMP) arresting and charging a man following reports of tragedy chanting in the FA Cup quarter-final on the 17th March.

There have been other instances of supporters being punished for tragedy-related abuse:

• June 2023: A Tottenham Hotspur fan was given a three-year football banning order and fined for making gestures mocking the Hillsborough tragedy during their 4-3 defeat at Anfield two months previously.
• August 2023: An arrest was made for engaging in tragedy chanting during the 1-1 draw between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
• January 2024: Three Manchester United supporters were arrested for chants related to the Hillsborough disaster before their Premier League match at Anfield the previous month.
• February 2024: Two fans were arrested for tragedy chanting at the Carabao Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool.
• March 2024: Arsenal handed three supporters three-year football banning orders after they pleaded guilty to tragedy chanting during the third-round FA Cup tie against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium two months previously.

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