Liverpool fans’ “unacceptable behavior”

Liverpool FC have condemned the behavior of some fans who gathered in the city to celebrate the victory of the Premier League title as “totally unacceptable”.

The flares ignited when thousands appeared on the Pier Head pier despite meeting restrictions.

Firefighters also extinguished a small fire in the iconic Liver Building.

Mayor Joe Anderson said the events “discredited Liverpool Football Club and the city of Liverpool.”

Fifteen people were arrested later in the night for violent disorder and police officers were “subjected to a series of violent confrontations,” Merseyside Police Chief Andy Cooke said on Twitter.

“Last night, children and families were present along with others and, therefore, police intervention was not appropriate at that time,” he said.

Deputy Police Chief Jon Roy said missiles were launched at the police, including at two officers trying to help the victim of an assault and arrest him.

“Both officers were attacked by the bottles thrown at them and were injured as a result,” he added.

Mersey Fire said it quickly put out a small fire on the first-floor balcony of the Liver Building that is believed to have been started by a firework.

A joint statement from Liverpool FC, Merseyside City Council and Police said: “Our city is still in a public health crisis and this behavior is totally unacceptable.”

“The potential danger of a second Covid-19 spike still exists and we need to work together to make sure we don’t undo everything that has been accomplished as a region during the blockade.”

“When it is safe to do so, we will all work together to organize a victory parade when everyone can come together to celebrate.”

Anderson told BBC Radio Merseyside that he was “frustrated, angry and upset.”

He said: “People were urinating at the gates of the Cunard building because people were gathering there with boxes and cases of beer.

“About 95% of fans have behaved remarkably well, brilliantly, and heard our pleas not to meet, and yet there is a small minority that pampers the name of Liverpool Football Club.”

Friday was the second night in a row that crowds gathered to celebrate the club’s first victory in 30 years.

“On Thursday when they met outside Anfield, you could argue that the passion was there and we had to accept that it was inevitable,” Anderson said.

“But what we saw yesterday was premeditated, planned, thought, and drinking played a big role in that.”

“That’s not [longer] acceptable now in this city. “

In the scene

Philip Munns, BBC Radio Merseyside

It just looks absolutely horrible.

You have boxes, broken bottles, cans, empty gas cans, lots of bags strewn across the lawn area in front of the Liver Building and around the Mersey Ferry Terminal.

Normally, many people will fall on a daily basis and it is an absolutely spotless beauty spot, but that is not the case this morning.

Cleaning is already underway.

After Friday’s crowds, Merseyside police issued a dispersal order for the city center until Sunday.

“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,” said a spokesman.

Anderson said he would speak to police about “why no action was taken much earlier.”

“I hope the Merseyside police come down really hard now … it’s about the safety of our city,” he said.

“I am angry that people are not considerate of other people, their families, the NHS, and the workers who have to deal with this. Covid is not gone.”

He said the reported cases of coronavirus had dropped in the past few weeks, but the crowds were “putting that at risk.”

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