FA’s Anfield investigation may include attack on Manchester City team bus
The Football Association will open a wide-ranging investigation into events that marred Liverpool’s win over Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, which may include a formal complaint from the visitors over damage to their team bus.
The FA is awaiting a report from the referee, Anthony Taylor, before deciding whether to charge, warn or take no action against Jürgen Klopp after the Liverpool manager was sent off for remonstrating with the assistant referee Gary Beswick. It is also looking into allegations of coin-throwing and offensive chanting during Liverpool’s 1-0 win.
City are expected to complain to the FA after their team bus was attacked as it departed Anfield. The windscreen was broken when objects were thrown at the bus on Anfield Road, with City’s players on board and CCTV footage from inside the vehicle will be passed to Merseyside police. Liverpool were fined €20,000 by Uefa in 2018 after supporters damaged the City team coach en route to a Champions League quarterfinal at Anfield. A City supporters’ bus was also attacked by Liverpool fans in 2014.
The Premier League champions want action taken over the latest incident involving their team bus. They have not commented on City supporters’ chanting in relation to Hillsborough during the game or vandalising the away concourse at Anfield with graffiti of a similar nature. Liverpool issued a statement on Sunday night condemning the “vile chants” that have an impact on families and survivors of the disaster. The FA condemned the chants and supports Liverpool’s statement. It has jurisdiction to take action only over discriminatory chanting and its investigation will consider whether that was the case on Sunday.
Liverpool have pledged to issue lifetime bans to any fan found guilty of throwing coins at City’s manager, Pep Guardiola.
Merseyside police, Liverpool and the FA are looking into the incidents that saw Guardiola targeted in his technical area. The FA could charge Liverpool with failing to control their supporters were a significant number involved in throwing objects at Guardiola, 10-15 as an example, but would not take action if a few individuals were responsible. City have alleged that three coins landed in his technical area.
Police have confirmed they are working with both clubs on a number of incidents from Sunday’s game. A statement from Merseyside police said: “We have been made aware that offensive and disorderly behaviour had taken place during the Liverpool v Manchester
City game, including allegations of coin-throwing and offensive graffiti was sprayed in the away section. We have also been made aware of an allegation that a Manchester City team coach was damaged.
“However, no incidents have been reported to us or that items were thrown at the coaches and we are now working with MCFC to establish the circumstances of what happened and the allegation that damage was caused. Such behaviour will not be tolerated, and we are working with both clubs to identify and bring to justice anyone found responsible for committing offensive and disorderly behaviour.”
Klopp could be in his technical area for Liverpool’s Premier League home game against West Ham on Wednesday because his red card does not carry an automatic ban. A red card for a manager means only that they have to watch the rest of the game in a designated area. The nature of the dismissal, including what was said, will determine whether any further action is taken. The FA must consider Taylor’s official report before deciding what course to take. Klopp could be offered a one-match ban and a fine, which he would have to accept to miss the West Ham game.