MY ACCOUNT
Tottenham supporters utilising unemployment and poverty to poke fun at Liverpool fans at Anfield on Saturday is unacceptable.
That was the message from the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust, who condemned their own visiting supporters that sang about the number of people out of work in Liverpool during the 1-1 Premier League draw.
Liverpool fans have long been mocked by rival supporters with songs dating back to the 1980s, when there was a severe economic recession.
The chant, sung on the riff of Liverpool’s famous club anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, has also been directed at Merseyside neighbours Everton, and the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust says there is no place for it.
“Singing about the opposition has long been a feature of English football, and we are reluctant to tell fans how they should support the team,” a statement on the organisation’s website said.
“Nevertheless, we were disappointed to hear the ‘sign on’ chant at Saturday’s away match at Anfield.
“Poverty and joblessness are not fair game for banter. There is a cost of living crisis throughout England, including in London. Our club represents an area and community with the fastest growing rate of unemployment in the country.
“We are rightly proud of our away support, and we want it to be noticed for positive reasons. For most of the game at Anfield our fans gave superb backing to a great team performance.
“Spurs fans have provided financial backing to Marine FC on Merseyside, and regularly contribute to food banks and community initiatives in London. This is what we are about.
“The ‘sign on’ chant is not what we are about. We’re Tottenham Hotspur. We’re better than that.”
The Liverpool fan group ‘Spirit of Shankly’ responded to the statement being posted on social media, with the Reds supporters replying on Twitter: “Well said”.
