According to The Athletic, comments from a UK Police Federation spokesperson have angered families of Hillsborough disaster victims and Liverpool MP Ian Burnham, who is calling for an apology.

Remarks from the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) spokesperson have sparked outrage among the families of the 97 victims, survivors of Hillsborough, and the wider Liverpool community.

Liverpool MP Ian Burnham has criticized the UK Football Policing Unit for making a "shameful attempt" to link the Hillsborough disaster to discussions about alcohol consumption at football matches.

Burnham, MP for West Derby, wrote to the UKFPU demanding an apology to the families of the 97 football fans who died in the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield in 1989.

In response to comments made by the Prime Minister earlier this week about potentially relaxing restrictions on alcohol sales in stadiums, the police spokesperson stated that the force opposes related legislative changes and cited preliminary investigations into the Hillsborough disaster, specifically the 1990 Taylor Report.

The UKFPU spokesperson stated that alcohol remains a "significant factor in violence and disorder associated with football" and that it would be "irresponsible" to permit increased alcohol consumption. The spokesperson added: "The laws that followed the Taylor Report are well-founded, and we are currently in the longest period without a major football-related disaster."

These comments have immediately provoked anger from the 97 victims' families, Hillsborough survivors, and the broader Liverpool community, particularly given that senior police officers spread lies about fan behavior following the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

After a 27-year fight for justice, a fresh inquiry in 2016 concluded that all 97 victims were unlawfully killed, exposing serious failures by authorities and completely vindicating the fans.

Burnham posted the letter he sent to the UKFPU on social media, stating: "I have written to the head of the UK Football Policing Unit after they shamelessly attempted to link alcohol to the Hillsborough disaster while the Prime Minister calls for relaxed restrictions on football matches."

"The Hillsborough disaster was not caused by alcohol, and fan behavior was not a cause or contributing factor. This is a reliable conclusion based on facts from the inquiry and independent investigations, not opinion.

"After 37 years, will police finally acknowledge the truth and stop spreading the lies and smears fabricated after the 1989 disaster?"

Burnham, a lifelong Liverpool FC fan and survivor of the crush at the Leppings Lane end of Hillsborough in 1989, also pointed out that the law restricting drinking in areas with a view of the pitch was introduced in 1985—four years before the disaster.

Burnham is demanding "a full and unconditional apology," adding: "The history of Hillsborough must be treated with accuracy, care, and respect, and must not be distorted or misused to inappropriately support current policy objectives."

After the Prime Minister called for relaxed restrictions on football matches, the UK Football Policing Unit shamelessly attempted to link alcohol to the Hillsborough disaster, which prompted me to write to the head of that agency.

The UKFPU spokesperson responded after The Athletic contacted them about Burnham's letter, saying: "We did not intend to link alcohol to the Hillsborough disaster."

"We acknowledge that alcohol-related laws were first introduced in 1985, and these laws, together with numerous recommendations from the subsequent Taylor Report, have formed part of a comprehensive approach that has significantly improved safety for fans attending matches in this country."

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