FEARS of trouble between Liverpool and Everton fans have put the city council on a collision course with the Football Association over the next Merseyside derby.
Liverpool city council is demanding the 5-30pm kick off for the Premiership clash at Goodison Park be moved back to early afternoon because of the "high risk factor" for trouble between the two sets of supporters.
The move follows a damning report from Merseyside Police which claims the so-called friendly derby has been replaced by an increasingly bitter rivalry.
The February 7 game is currenlty scheduled to start at 5-30pm to suit television broadcasters.
Trouble
Now the city council, backed by Assistant Mayor Ann O’Byrne, wants the FA to switch the game to a kick-off not later than 1.30pm. And it says it will seek legal advice to force the issue if the FA refuses to listen.
Cllr O’Byrne said the issue surrounding the right of broadcasters to dictate kick off times is unacceptable.
Everton FC earlier this month submitted a report by the police to the FA.
The council’s Grounds Safety Advisory Group has been told by Merseyside Police that the proposed 5.30pm kick-off places the match in the highest risk factor for potential trouble.
In their lengthy report the police charts the change in the ‘Merseyside Derby over recent years from what was once a match with friendly rivalry to a virtual battle, with the potential for trouble.
No longer the 'friendly
derby', say policeSays the report: “The Merseyside derby is one of the most significant fixtures in the football season. Historically it had the reputation of being a ‘friendly’ derby with healthy rivalry often dividing families as well as friendships.
“However the relationship between the two sets of supporters deteriorated throughout the 1990s to such an extent that this fixture became more of a problem for the police, clubs and local authority.”
The report adds the game now poses a high risk of disorder whether played at Goodison or Anfield and, since 2005, the game has had an early kick-off to mitigate the problems.
The police say there is no intelligence to indicate at this stage any planned organised disorder at the clash in February. Their main concern is the later kick-off could see drink-fuelled supporters heading to the ground, and later heading to the city centre where they will mix with people enjoying a Saturday night out.
Police say a number of issues are prevalent in the Merseyside derby including risk groups from each club gathering to engage in organised disorder before and after the match.
De-briefing of previous derby clashes have highlighted missile-throwing, targeted at players, rival supporters and police officers inside the stadium. There has also been offensive and racist chanting towards supporters and players.
The right of broadcasters to dictate kick off times is unacceptable, says Assistant Mayor Ann O'Byrne
In their report, police say they fear an increase in organised and spontaneous disorder, and violent assaults on both sets of supporters fuelled by alcohol.
The fixture will require an extensive policing operation, with a significant increase in city centre policing after the match, they say.
Officers say they want an early afternoon kick-off because experience has shown that is the best way of controlling what has become a difficult match.
The council’s licensing chief, John Mc Hale says that no variations had so far been made on kick-off times because of the influence of television.
The city council’s licensing committee is today (Tuesday) expected to back the police and its own Grounds’ Safety Group by writing to the FA to call for the kick off time to be switched to early afternoon.
“In the event of no change in the kick-off time being determined the city council will take legal advice on all appropriate actions to enforce the position” warns the report.
