WITH MERSEYSIDE POLICE confirming their intention to launch enquiries into last night’s attack on Manchester City’s team bus, footage has emerged which provides a glimpse into how the incident played out from the perspective of the Manchester City players and staff.
As the bus made its way towards Anfield stadium ahead of last night’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Liverpool — which City lost 3-0 — the vehicle was damaged by a hail of missiles which included bottles and fireworks.
Liverpool Football Club strongly condemned the actions of its supporters in a statement, while two police officers sustained injuries.
Manel Estiarte, a member of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola’s technical staff, posted footage on Instagram from inside the bus, accompanied by the comments: “No words. Unacceptable.”
Speaking before the game, Guardiola said: “I know this is not Liverpool. The history of the club is much bigger than this. Hopefully it doesn’t happen again.”
No defending it in any way it’s just unjustifiable.
@Scott Crossfield: just unjustifiable?
@The Irish Pain: lol my bad the “just” jumped in there for some reason. It’s unjustifiable
@Scott Crossfield: you’d imagine that would motivate you even more to go out and beat them.
@Scott Crossfield: Lots of defending it, I love it!! “oooh the men were throwing things at our bus and calling us names…i think I may have heard one or two burp….please help us” Anyone who thinks what happened is that bad should stick to tennis or golf or some other wuss sport. Pack of soft gits.
@Scott Crossfield: unjustifiably unjust.
@Scott Crossfield: absolute filth bags in fairness. typical if that club.
@Tuot tuot: good to finally get some input from the lowest common denominator. Please do tell us how something that happened nowhere near a pitch, with only one team present is part of the game? Nonsense, it’s s(umbag behaviour and it’s criminal.
Doesn’t look like just one or two idiots to me. There’s hundreds (thousands?) of them throwing stuff and giving the fingers and abuse. I see plenty of kids in the crowd too. Really are the lowest of the earth if they think this is the way to treat other people. I hope Liverpool do more than just offer a hollow statement like they did today. Name and shame these people-and publicly ban them from Anfield. The whole situation is embarrassing for all at the club after what should have been their finest night of the season.
@Jim Demps: it was the finest night of the season
@Jim Demps: throwing stuff is bad form but boy is that intimidating enough without it , they should do that every home game. They’ll rarely lose at home again!
@Jim Demps: Imagine that, giving them the fingers. Whats the world coming to?
@Jim Demps: All jokes aside Jim how can the club name and shame thousands of supporters acting the maggott outside of the stadium and in the same breath how can you be held responsible for the behaviour of independently acting people. LFC didnt go out and encourage thousands of people to intimidate the opposition bus about all they can do is condemn it and if merseyside police come up with the names of the antagonists then they can ban them and proper order
@Michael McGrath: a club can’t just distance themselves from their supporters though. If they can’t name that many then drop a heavy fine on that club. Make it a deterrent and something that will make the fans behave like humans rather than animals.
@Jim Demps: Jim has no other club ever done this? Did City fans not throw advertising hoardings at stewards and police only a few months ago against Wigan? Throwing bottles isn’t on but you’d swear they bombed the bus the way people are going on.
@Laura Walsh: fireworks, flares, and glass bottle
@Dave O Keeffe: *and glass bottles, you’re right there was no danger at all. Time to just move on and forget it. Or as an apology Liverpool should travel on a bus that’s on fire for the second leg. See if they get off to a sluggish start after that
@Dave O Keeffe: city actually had a very good start to the game, even they’re not using that as an excuse.
@Laura Walsh: I was only commenting on last nights incidents. But my views would be the same of it was a different team. Acting like thugs is not to be applauded or defended and the sanctions for the club and supporters should be severe enough to prevent any reoccurrences otherwise it will only be encouraged and become commonplace. I’m sure no one would like to see those scenes happen weekly
@Dave O Keeffe: Jesus will you calm down, why don’t you read what the City players themselves had to say about the situation instead of getting offended on their behalf?
@Jim Demps: What a hysterical reaction. I think that there should be more focus put on the positive support shown by the Liverpool fans and the unique atmosphere they created . I agree that pelting the bus with objects went too far but it has to be taken in consideration that those buses are built like tanks and that the windows are shatterproof. The players on the bus might have felt intimidated but they certainly didn’t have to fear for their safety.
@Jim Demps: wouldn’t be surprised if we got fined as a club but it shouldn’t be a higher fine than usual, more serious incidents have already happened across Europe this year and not much has been said. Punishments have to be consistent across the board.
@Laura Walsh: Two police officers were hurt last night.
@Adrian Costigan: yes, and Liverpool will I’m sure deservedly receive the standard fine and those officers should be compensated. I hope they are both ok and that it’s nothing too serious.
@Laura Walsh: let’s not go down the “others do it” Road. Liverpool have had issues before and can only deal with what they do not what others do.
@Scott Crossfield: ‘others do it’ is actually relevant though when people are calling for stronger punishments than the norm.
@Laura Walsh: the standard fine is no deterrent unfortunately. Use this as a test case and implement much harsher, overly harsh in my opinion, fines and point deductions and that would irradiate it quickly. Sporting events , soccer rugby gaa whatever should be safe to bring your family / kids to. If they aren’t then there is something wrong with everyone involved, from the perpetrators to the apologists.
@Jim Demps: Throwing items is Arrington but verbal abuse and gesturing is part of football and visible anywhere.
@Daniel Donovan: disgusting*
@Jim Demps: pull your head in Jim, your some troll when it comes to commenting on liverpool articles, thousands throwing bottles?? You sad man
@Jim Demps: a point deduction from the knock out stages of the champions league? I’d take that.
@Laura Walsh: I wouldn’t say I’m offended, just tired of people saying things like “other things happened in other places so just get over it.” Fans made a show of themselves in front of a global audience.
@Michael McGrath: suppose they just acting the maggot in the 80′s and 90′s too
@DJ Moran: so you reckon all that carry on is ok?
@Laura Walsh: Prior history counts and UEFA have sanctioned Liverpool before.
@Scott Crossfield: I think you will find every clubs have had their issues in the past and not just Liverpool. Every club has their undesirables
@Mark Noonan: no one said they don’t we have to deal with the issue with our “fans” behaviours small in numbers compared to all others that flew in enjoyed the game sang and flew home. It’s the clubs and the supporters groups goal to eradicate this stuff. Who cares what other fans do it’s a cop out only worry about our own.
@Jim Demps: never said that did i? Maybe 10-20 people were out of order and hopefully will be found out and dealt with, but it was foolish to say there was thousands of fans throwing bottles!!!
@DJ Moran: definitely more than 20 on the evidence in the article alone
@Laura Walsh:
@Laura Walsh:
How about reading what LFC had to say about it? They “apologise[d] unreservedly” for “completely unacceptable” behaviour and pledged to “cooperate fully” in order to “identify those responsible”. Do you condemn this response as so much more hysterics? Or perhaps you prefer to see it as a cynical attempt to mitigate UEFA sanctions.
The line between spirited support and reckless violence is not difficult to discern. Have a bit of dignity and acknowledge lamentable behaviour when you see it. If you think the club appreciates such hooliganism, I’m quite sure you’re mistaken.
I hope Joan Burton was ok
Replay the game would be the sporting thing to do.
@Adrian Costigan: Yes…where hopefully City lose 4-0 this time…
Some of those throwing stuff, might be identifiable by the video. I hope they get caught and prosecuted.
@ROS123: the video is so pathetic. 90% are grown men using their left hand to hold their phone and their right hand to do the universal w****r sign at professional footballers. Great atmosphere alright!
Typical Liverpool never there fault , they should be immediately kicked out of tournament
@wiggy: what a bleeding moronic comment
@James Colgan: it’s what you’d expect from a moron
@wiggy: jealous Utd fan
@Graham McNamara: immature fool who thinks all things are Liverpool v Manu ?
@Graham McNamara: Wait ’til city get them on saturday.
@wiggy: Ahem. It’s never “their” fault. Liverpool is over “there”.
@wiggy: haha I like it. Fecking Scousers
@James Colgan: really ???? Who’s fault is it then ??????
@Mick Power: really ?? How sad you really are
@wiggy: you calling me sad, you must be a fan of irony.
@wiggy: All these jealous people from English clubs whose teams didn’t get as far as Liverpool get a life from a Celtic fan you’ll never walk alone
Great to see in an increasingly sanitised supporter’s environment.
@diao: Throwing glass bottles and injuries to police men are not remotely great to see.
LFC spokesperson James Carragher to make statement shortly.
@Trevor Dunne: no statement he was at the front spitting at bus
@Trevor Dunne: will he say it or spray it
At least Liverpool won’t have any fear of a retaliation next Tuesday. Think the bus can deal with all 6 of City’s fans
@Kris Ertz: childish comment do all your supporters live in liverpool?
@Kris Ertz: I heard Pep is preparing a £50 million bid for Newcastles fans for next season : )
@Ac: he wasn’t implying only 6 city fans live in Manchester rather the fact they struggle to sell out their stadium on a very regular basis.
The call went out to the fans to line the streets and welcome city to their place… I agree the bottles and abuse is wrong ..if it was flags and songs the impact would be greater..just like the silence in Irish rugby when taking the frees ..I admire the rally call for all to line the streets ..this is admiral in the modern day..but the abuse is all wrong.
Don Revives Leeds would stop the bus a little from the ground and walk through the crowd ..to show them we are no afraid…I love the passion but hate the violence
I’ve always thought it’s strange to have Estiarte in Guardiola’s crew . He is probably the all time best ever waterpolo player .. it’s like having Lester Piggot as team delegate for the Lions or something . Spanish sporting legend all the same with appearances in 5 Olympics from 1980 to 2000 .
@Limón Madrugada: Sport psychology is universal. If an All Blacks coach came in to talk to a GAA dressing room, they’d certainly listen. Winners are winners and they have a special outlook
@Clay Davis: sheeeeeeeeet ! I know that but club delegate is usually an ex player someone who knows all the backroom staff at all the rival clubs cos he’s spent a lifetime with them .
Such sporting scenes
Not just a few arseholes as Liverpool supporters claimed
Years ago I was in Anfield for Liverpool vs Man Utd. Alan Smith suffered a compound fracture that day which effectively ended his career. But the police had to horse charge the Liverpool supporters to get the ambulance onto the pitch. Sheer thuggery , that is not unique to any one club. And the sad thing about this violence is none of the players come from their home town , just a crowd of mercenaries, but why not
@Tom Gorey: http://www.sport.net/former-manchester-united-striker-alan-smith-denies-liverpool-fans-attacked-his-ambulance-after-anfield-horror-injury_337088
@Tom Gorey: Alan Smith himself rubbishing those claims
Vermin.Clearly a lot more that just a few as some apologists are claiming.
So sad to see this happen last night especially with the soccer world mourning the death of Ray Wilkins.
30k fine.. 3-0 victory. Job done
BOOM!!!!
Not condoning it but why did’nt they.come in thought the back door ???
As a Liverpool fan it’s not nice to see this footage. To see grown men acting like that at a team bus is just ridiculous. I’d love to know what they actually thought they were going to achieve by doing that. It’s disrespectful to both clubs.
Ban the scouser dogs for at least 5 years from all European competitions
Madness