Ex-Fifa official suggests ‘potential to throw things’ after confirmed Liverpool news
Crowd trouble at Liverpool is “rare” so it is fair for them to extend their safe standing trial, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee also suggested that the ongoing safe standing trial across the country has been a relative success.
Liverpool confirmed last week (30 November) that they are using the winter break to add an extra 2,500 rail seats on the Kop.
Their initial trial saw 7,800 seats converted with rail seats.
“Relatively speaking, trouble at Anfield is rare, it doesn’t happen that often,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Generally, so far, safe standing appears to be working reasonably well. You do have to feel for those guys who have maybe waited for years for a seat on the Kop and will now have to stand during the game.
“Generally, it’s a commercial decision that impacts on Liverpool fans alone and not necessarily anybody else. If they can convince the fans that this is a good move and get them onside, which they are clearly doing, then it’s OK.
“I genuinely thought that one of the problems would be the potential to throw things but it seems to me that’s not happened so don’t wish it on anybody. You can’t link the Man City incident to this.”
The Athletic reported last week (1 December) that Liverpool had closed the investigation into coins thrown at Pep Guardiola in Man City’s 1-0 loss at Anfield earlier this season (16 October).
The guilty party could not be identified but there is no suggestion it came from somebody in a seat with railing.
In other news, Kieran Maguire has claimed a “huge” Liverpool deal is on cards amid the latest from India and it “opens so many doors”.