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Liverpool FC’s LGBT supporters’ organisation has welcomed the crackdown on homophobic chantling through Merseyside Police.
The force announced yesterday, Tuesday, January 24, that 3 men had been arrested for alleged homophobic chants Liverpool’s attack on Chelsea at Anfield.
The men, aged 23, 37 and 49, arrested following 3 separate incidents at Anfield Stadium and Anfield Road on Saturday 21 January. They were arrested “on suspicion of alarm and misery of intentional homophobic harassment. “
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Paul Amann, founder of Kop Outs, told ECHO that the enthusiasts were not only non-homophobic, but also actively anti-homophobic, a “defining moment. “
He said: “Education has led to great relief in vile chanting, but the app is welcome to treat those who persist and have LGBT phobia.
“Having so many decent enthusiasts who are allies, opting to go through Kop Outs is incredibly humiliating. It is right and right that those few people, who did not pay attention to our request and that of the vast majority of their companions. Enthusiastically, they were arrested.
“This is a defining moment of change, demonstrating an adulthood of most enthusiasts who are only non-homophobic, but actively anti-homophobic. Our enthusiasts supported our call to eliminate voices; Spelling in this solidarity, your very philosophy never walk alone.
The arrested 37-year-old man was released on bail pending further investigation, while the men aged 23 and 49 will attend a voluntary interview. League match, adding Hillsborough chants.
Superintendent Paul Sutcliffe and the commander in form of Saturday’s attack said: “Merseyside Police will not tolerate hate crimes in any form, and we will bring to justice those guilty of committing offensive chants. In this case, if all 3 suspects are charged and convicted of the infraction, then we will look for football bans that oppose them.
He added: “It is imperative that anyone who witnesses such an offence reports this without delay to the commissioners or the police, so that we can take the necessary action. As in all matches, we are working intensively with both clubs to ensure the protection of the public and the groups themselves. “
ECHO reported at the time last year how the Crown Prosecution Service had planned to make homophobic football chants, directed at Chelsea FS, a hate crime in England and Wales. A PSC spokesman said: “We will not hesitate to pursue any of those moves where there is sufficient evidence to do so. “
To report a hate crime, contact the Merseyside Police Social Media Office on Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC. You can also call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
If you need some explanation as to why you don’t want to report a hate crime to the police, the independent charity Stop Hate UK has a 24/7 confidential helpline for all victims of hate crime on 0800 138 1625 or www. stophateuk. org.
You can report an incident of discrimination in football, whether online or at a base, off-league or professional football match, by downloading the Kick It Out app.
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