Last Sunday's Premier League encounter between Liverpool and Manchester United was an emotional affair. It was the first home game that Anfield hosted since the release of an Independent Panel Report into the Hillsborough disaster of 1989, which revealed that police tried to blame the victims' for the tragedy, and even attempted to defame the deceased by using police records to look into their background. TV cameras captured the poignant scenes, as Patrice Evra shook hands with Luis Suarez for the first time since suffering racial abuse at the hands of the Uruguayan international, for which the Liverpool forward received an eight-match suspension. Fans watching at home also saw United legend Bobby Charlton make his way onto the pitch to present a bouquet of flowers to Ian Rush - Liverpool's record goalscorer, before captains Steven Gerrard and Ryan Giggs released 96 red balloons in memory of those who died that day. The 1945 show-tune "You'll Never Walk Alone" played out as fans held up mosaic signs spelling out "Justice" and "The Truth" just before play got underway. These scenes, beamed to me from a television, were enough to stop me in my tracks and watch, as the hair stood up on the back of my neck. I have long been a United supporter, and my uncle is a lifelong Liverpool fan, so growing up, I learned to respect both clubs and their respective histories. It wasn't until a few hours later, whilst reading a match report, that I discovered that, whilst the opening scenes prior to kick off were respectfully observed by both sets of players and fans alike, there was one unsavory moment when a few Liverpool fans ran over to the United fans still waiting to leave the stadium and stretched out their arms to mimic an aeroplane, in reference to the Munich Air disaster of 1958 when 8 young United players lost their lives. A lot of the reports I had read on the game hadn't actually made reference to this - due to the press probably not seeing it straight away due to them being downstairs or busy getting interviews with the players and managers. It was then that an idea hit me - why not seek out a fan who was at Anfield that day and ask for their first hand account on the Hillsborough ceremony, both before and after the match? Here, Manchester United fan Michael Pheena, a South African visiting Europe who was in the away support that day gives his first hand account of proceedings. When the TV cameras had shifted their focus after full time - Michael was there waiting to be let out of the stadium with all the other travelling United fans, and he witnessed first hand the crude stadium chants that have been exchanged between the two sets of fans down the years. Having lost friends in the Ellis Park stadium disaster of 2001, in which 43 people lost their lives in South Africa's worst stadium disaster to date, Michael knows only too well how Liverpool fans felt that day.
1. What was the atmosphere like inside and outside the stadium? Intense, very intense. it was my first time at Anfield, I'm from South Africa visiting Europe, so I was not sure what to expect. but from the moment you turned into Anfield road you could feel the intensity of the occasion.
2. Did you receive Sir Alex's open letter? What impact did it have on you? We all got Sir Alex's letter, I actually got it via email from the United Fan Club. honestly, it didn't really affect me because I had already decided that I was going to respect the occasion, having myself lost good friends in a stadium disaster in South Africa (Ellis Park).
3. What was your reaction to the opening scenes of the game (I.e Bobby Charlton presenting flowers to Rush, Evra/Suarez hand shake?) I was star struck by Sir Charlton. here is a man I grew up learning about and to see him there was just amazing. I don't think you could find anyone more fitting, considering Bobby Charlton is a Munich survivor. I was so relieved when those two shook hands, I think on a day like that we did not need handshake controversies.
4. Was it right for Evra to shake Suarez' hand after what happened last season? Right, yes. Easy? Hell no. I'm black, and I have encountered racism. It is not easy to forgive, because you literally have here someone discriminating you for something you did not chose for yourself and on top of it, Evra tried to shake his hand last season and Suarez turned it down, so for Evra to extend his hand AGAIN shows you the moral character of the man. It could not have been easy, and that's why we cheered. Because really Evra did us proud.
5. Did you encounter any abuse from rival supporters? If so, what happened? Yes we actually did, but most of it was to be expected. After Gerrard scored we had to endure the "This is Anfield" jeers but the main thing was when the police announced that all away fans had to stay behind until the home fans exited the stadium. We waited, talking about the game and just enjoying the win, and shortly before we were given the all clear, about a dozen liverpool fans walked towards us, and three guys started spreading their arms in an airplane gesture, the rest soon followed suit. That's when all hell broke lose. people who were calm most of the game suddenly started yelling the most foul things. I myself could not resist calling them "c***s" and that's when the "murderers" chant broke lose. people started yelling "justice for the Heysel 39", tempers were absolutely flaring. During the match there was also some fellow who kept making monkey gestures and noises everytime Evra got the ball, it was incredibly upsetting.
6. What are your opinions on the Hillsborough/Munich terrace chants? I think the chants are sick, honestly they are. Football is not greater than human life; I bleed Red but I would never take joy from the death of a Liverpool, or City fan. Never. Most people have that attitude. that is why it was upsetting what the home fans did mock Munich. Here you have people that asked for respect, and could not give it back. It's sickening.
7. What are your opinions on the Hillsborough Independent Panel Report? I can't comment on that because I never read it, but from what I know the blame which was placed on the fans was cleared, which is good, mostly for the families - I mean can you imagine anything worse than being told that the death of loved ones was their own fault? Reporting by Joseph Dempsey, words by Michael Pheena, picture courtesy of
Alex Wise