According to The Athletic, comments from a UK Football Policing Unit spokesperson have angered families of the Hillsborough disaster victims, with Liverpool councillors demanding an apology.

Remarks made by a spokesperson for the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) have provoked anger from the families of 97 victims, Hillsborough survivors, and the broader Liverpool community.

Liverpool councillors have condemned what they call a "shameful attempt" by the UKFPU to link the Hillsborough disaster to discussions about alcohol at matches.

Ian Byrne, MP for West Derby, has sent a letter to the UKFPU demanding an apology to the families of 97 fans who died in the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield in 1989.

In response to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's comments earlier this week about reviewing the alcohol ban in stadium seating areas, the UKFPU spokesperson opposed changes to relevant legislation, citing the 1990 Taylor Report, the initial inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster.

The UKFPU spokesperson stated that alcohol is an "important factor" in football-related violence and disorder, and that permitting further increases in alcohol consumption would be "irresponsible." The spokesperson added that "the legislative changes implemented following the Taylor Report were evidence-based, and we are now in the longest period without a major football-related disaster since then."

Given that police officials spread lies about fan behaviour following the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, these comments prompted immediate and fierce backlash from the families of the 97 victims, Hillsborough survivors, and the wider Liverpool community.

After a 27-year fight for justice, a new inquest in 2016 concluded that all 97 victims were unlawfully killed, exposing gross failures by authorities and fully exonerating fans.

Byrne posted his letter to the UKFPU on social media, stating: "I have written to the head of the UK Football Policing Unit condemning their shameful attempt to link alcohol and the Hillsborough disaster after the Prime Minister called for relaxed football-related regulations."

"Hillsborough was not caused by alcohol, and fan behaviour did not cause or contribute to the disaster. These are conclusions based on authoritative facts from the inquest and independent investigations, not subjective opinion.

"After 37 years, when will police accept the truth and stop spreading the lies and slurs fabricated after the disaster? Enough is enough."

Byrne, a lifelong Liverpool fan who survived the crush in the Leppings Lane Stand during the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, also noted that the ban on drinking in areas with a view of the pitch was introduced in 1985, four years before the tragedy.

Byrne demanded a "complete and unconditional apology," adding that "Hillsborough history must be treated with accuracy, care and respect, and not distorted or casually exploited to support current policy proposals."

When The Athletic asked the UKFPU about Byrne's letter, the spokesperson stated: "We had no intention whatsoever of linking alcohol to the Hillsborough disaster."

"We acknowledge that relevant alcohol regulations were first introduced in 1985, and these laws, together with the chain of recommendations that followed from the Taylor Report, formed part of a multi-faceted approach that significantly improved fan safety at matches in this country."

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