Liverpool Remember 37 Years Since Hillsborough Tragedy
Liverpool Football Club is today marking the 37th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, paying tribute to the 97 supporters who lost their lives.
The tragedy occurred on April 15, 1989, during an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium, where a fatal crush led to one of the worst disasters in football history.
All 97 victims were later ruled to have been unlawfully killed following fresh inquests in 2016.
In a statement, the club said “respects are being paid across Liverpool Football Club today to mark the 37th anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy.”
Club officials, alongside captains and coaches from the men’s, women’s and youth teams, are visiting the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield to lay wreaths. Flags are being flown at half-mast across club sites, with tributes also taking place across the city.
At 3:06 pm today, the exact time the match was halted in 1989, the club will observe a moment of silence “in honour of the 97.”
Honouring the 97
Liverpool also confirmed that “ninety-seven biodegradable balloons will subsequently be released from the centre-circle at Anfield” in remembrance of each victim.
Operations at the stadium have been scaled back for the day, with the Anfield retail store, museum, and stadium tours closing early as a mark of respect.
The disaster led to major reforms in stadium safety following the Taylor Inquiry, ensuring such a tragedy is never repeated.