Post by QPR Report on Apr 15, 2009 6:30:17 GMT
Guardian - Owen Gibson
FA cancels plans to mark Hillsborough with applause at Cup semi-final• Families of 96 victims 'felt uncomfortable' with tribute
• Arsenal and Chelsea captains to present flowers instead
The Football Association has dropped plans for a minute's applause at this Saturday's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley in memory of the 96 Liverpool fans who lost their lives at Hillsborough after the club and the group that represents families of the victims raised objections.
The FA said that following a "long and extensive" dialogue with Liverpool FC and the Hillsborough Families Support Group, it had been decided that a presentation of flowers by the FA chairman, Lord Triesman, and the captains of Arsenal and Chelsea to 12 representatives from the HFSG would be a more appropriate tribute.
The presentation to the party from the HFSG, which will include the president, Trevor Hicks, and vice-chairwoman, Margaret Aspinall, will be accompanied by a public address announcement and messages on the big screens at Wembley. Hicks lost two teenage daughters at Hillsborough and Aspinall her 18-year-old son.
Originally, the FA had also planned to stage a minute's applause prior to Saturday's match, chosen as the most appropriate date to pay tribute because it is closest to the 20th anniversary of the disaster on 15 April. But today it said that both Liverpool and the HFSG, as well as supporters groups across Liverpool, "felt uncomfortable" with the idea.
It was at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest that 96 fans lost their lives at the Leppings Lane end of the ground. The FA said talks had taken place over a period of three months with Hicks, the Liverpool chief executive, Rick Parry, and the club's late secretary Bryce Morrison over the most appropriate way to commemorate the disaster.
"The tragedy at Hillsborough was one of the darkest days in the history of English football and must never be forgotten. This week is rightly dominated by memories of – and tributes to – the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives," said Triesman. "It is important that Saturday's presentation take place before both semi-final matches this weekend and is seen by fans all over the country and around the world."
Players from all four semi-final teams – Everton play Manchester United in the second match on Sunday – will wear black armbands.
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/apr/14/hillsborough-disaster-liverpool-fa-cup
FA cancels plans to mark Hillsborough with applause at Cup semi-final• Families of 96 victims 'felt uncomfortable' with tribute
• Arsenal and Chelsea captains to present flowers instead
The Football Association has dropped plans for a minute's applause at this Saturday's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley in memory of the 96 Liverpool fans who lost their lives at Hillsborough after the club and the group that represents families of the victims raised objections.
The FA said that following a "long and extensive" dialogue with Liverpool FC and the Hillsborough Families Support Group, it had been decided that a presentation of flowers by the FA chairman, Lord Triesman, and the captains of Arsenal and Chelsea to 12 representatives from the HFSG would be a more appropriate tribute.
The presentation to the party from the HFSG, which will include the president, Trevor Hicks, and vice-chairwoman, Margaret Aspinall, will be accompanied by a public address announcement and messages on the big screens at Wembley. Hicks lost two teenage daughters at Hillsborough and Aspinall her 18-year-old son.
Originally, the FA had also planned to stage a minute's applause prior to Saturday's match, chosen as the most appropriate date to pay tribute because it is closest to the 20th anniversary of the disaster on 15 April. But today it said that both Liverpool and the HFSG, as well as supporters groups across Liverpool, "felt uncomfortable" with the idea.
It was at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest that 96 fans lost their lives at the Leppings Lane end of the ground. The FA said talks had taken place over a period of three months with Hicks, the Liverpool chief executive, Rick Parry, and the club's late secretary Bryce Morrison over the most appropriate way to commemorate the disaster.
"The tragedy at Hillsborough was one of the darkest days in the history of English football and must never be forgotten. This week is rightly dominated by memories of – and tributes to – the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives," said Triesman. "It is important that Saturday's presentation take place before both semi-final matches this weekend and is seen by fans all over the country and around the world."
Players from all four semi-final teams – Everton play Manchester United in the second match on Sunday – will wear black armbands.
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/apr/14/hillsborough-disaster-liverpool-fa-cup