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PA Media
Liverpool fans dropped flares outside the liver building
Police asked soccer fans who gathered in Liverpool for the second night after their team obtained the Premier League title to leave.
A dispersal order was issued around the city center after the groups re-emerged on Friday to celebrate Liverpool’s first title victory in 30 years.
Police and politicians urged Liverpool fans to stay home because of Covid-19, which “was still a real risk.”
Merseyside police said the order will be in effect until Sunday.
The force said a Section 34 Dispersal Order was issued “after large meetings in the area tonight.”
“We know that many Liverpool fans want to celebrate their victory in the Premier League, but there is a time and a place for this, and this weekend it is not either.”
“Tonight we have seen a large number of people flock to the Pier Head area increasing the risk of spreading Covid-19,” he said.
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PA Media
Police urged people to “act responsibly” and comply with social distancing measures
People turned to social media to comment on how people behaved, about launching flares at the Liver Building and launching fireworks.
The police urged people to “act responsibly” and abide by social distancing measures to “protect and protect each other.”
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Liverpool City Hall
Mayor Joe Anderson tweeted a photo of crowds gathered at the Mersey ferry terminal
When the celebrations started again, 24 hours after the club’s title win was confirmed, the mayor tweeted a photo of a large crowd gathered next to the city’s Mersey Ferry terminal.
He wrote: “Clearly, too many people are intoxicated and cause antisocial behavior.
“I urge you to leave the city center now that it is not safe.”
He went on to say that “the councils simply do not have the power” to move people or prevent them from meeting.
“If you know someone who is there, please send them a message and ask them to come home,” he added.
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram added his own message, echoing Mr. Anderson.
“We are not saying that these are party peanuts, but hundreds of people have already died in our region from the coronavirus,” he wrote.
“Until it’s safe for us to unite, celebrate at home.”
‘Stay in your bubble’
Earlier, Anderson, who warned such scenes would happen, said it was “disappointing” that many had ignored the advice.
Merseyside Police Chief Aide Rob Carden said fans should only celebrate with “members of their home and in their social bubble.”
“As we all know, Merseyside has been disproportionately affected by Covid-19 and we must all do what we can to prevent new cases and deaths,” he said.
Official figures show that Liverpool recorded 544 coronavirus-related deaths as of June 12 and 1,677 cases as of June 25.
Announcing that the city’s civic buildings would be lit in red for a week to celebrate the club’s achievement, a council spokesperson urged “ecstatic fans to try to maintain social distance orientation to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.”
Council Chief Executive Tony Reeves added that it was “vital that we not rule out months of hard work for a weekend of celebration.”
‘A little frustrating’
In April Anderson said he feared restarting the Premier League would lead to an “absurd” situation with fans flocking outside of Anfield.
The club said at the time that they were “disappointed” by the mayor’s comments, while group of supporters Spirit of Shankly asked him to recant his statement, adding that “there was no evidence to support the mayor’s perception that supporters they would break the closing regulations. ” “
Both Liverpool FC and Spirit of Shankly have been contacted for comment.
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Reuters
Police officers on the ground did not attempt to disperse the crowd.
Speaking to the BBC, Anderson said he had “warned he was concerned about the numbers that would appear, not just outside of Anfield, but in other parts of the city center.”
“In the euphoria … people have decided to ignore the advice, but it’s gone, it’s happened.
“We will have to see if there is a spike in the coronavirus as a result of this.”
He added that it was “disappointing, just as it was seeing the scenes on Bournemouth beach.”
“But if Chelsea or Manchester City had won the league, we would have seen the same scenes outside of Stamford Bridge or Etihad.”
“We are where we are.”
The city council has already begun investigating the impact of the club’s Champions League match against Atlético de Madrid on March 11, in which more than 3,000 fans away traveled to the game, even though Spain was in a partial block at that time.
In May, the scientist who led the UK coronavirus monitoring project, Professor Tim Spector, said allowing the game to happen “had caused more suffering and death”, while the family of Reds fan Richard Mawson , who died with Covid-19 after attending the game. I have asked for an inquiry.
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