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Luton said they were reviewing CCTV evidence to identify individuals, who could face stadium bans and criminal prosecutions.<\/p>\n
The club were coming under increasing pressure to make a public statement after intervention from the FA and Liverpool, who have have worked closely with Manchester City and Manchester United fans\u2019 groups in recent seasons on education around the harm caused by tragedy chanting.<\/p>\n
However, part of Luton\u2019s statement suggesting fans may have sung the chants without knowing the full meaning of what they were singing is understood to have not been received particularly well on Merseyside.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat has quickly become evident is that a number of people may have taken part without knowledge that the words used were in relation to the Hillsborough and Heysel tragedies, and we see the route to persuading supporters not to repeat these chants in future is through communication and education,\u201d Luton\u2019s statement added.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn behalf of all at Luton Town, we would like to wholeheartedly apologise to anyone offended by the chants heard during yesterday\u2019s match, and will continue to work with supporter groups to educate fans on chants that are classed as tragedy abuse by football authorities, the police and CPS.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shame on everyone who said it<\/p>\n
Ninety-seven football fans died as a result of a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough in Sheffield on April 15, 1989.<\/p>\n
After the Luton match, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp said he did not hear the chanting, which occurred while the game was still goalless shortly after half-time, but added: \u201cShame on everyone who said it.\u201d<\/p>\n
An FA statement read: \u201cWe strongly condemn chanting of this nature and will continue to work closely with our stakeholders across the game, including the clubs, leagues, fan groups and the relevant authorities to proactively address this issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former Reds defender Jamie Carragher, who was working at the match as a Sky Sports analyst, said: \u201cAs supporters you\u2019ve got to have rivalry, there is no doubt. But we\u2019re better than that.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s happened two or three times in the game. All clubs have been guilty of that over the years at different times.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the world we live in right now, I think we\u2019re better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Premier League also issued its own statement on Monday evening, which read: \u201cThe Premier League condemns the tragedy-related chanting heard at yesterday\u2019s match between Luton Town and Liverpool.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to treat this as an unacceptable issue and are committed to addressing it as a priority.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose found guilty of tragedy-related abuse face an automatic club ban and will be referred to the police.\u201d<\/p>\n
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In June, a man who wore a shirt at last season\u2019s FA Cup final which referenced the Hillsborough tragedy was issued with a four-year football banning order.<\/p>\n
As part of the \u2018Love Football, Protect The Game\u2019 initiative agreed by the English game\u2019s authorities on the eve of the current season, regulation changes and tough new measures have been introduced which will lead to those found to have been involved in tragedy-related offences facing stadium bans and potential criminal prosecution.<\/p>\n