The Football Association is to write to
Liverpool
for an explanation into the orchestrated support shown for
the jailed fan Michael Shields during Monday's 0-0 draw with West
Ham United at Anfield.
Officials at Soho Square are considering whether to bring
disciplinary charges after taking exception at the manner in which
Liverpool have publicly backed a man who has been sentenced to 10
years in prison for the attempted murder of a Bulgarian waiter,
Martin Georgiev, in May 2005.
Another Liverpool fan admitted being responsible for the crime
before later retracting his confession and Shields' case will go
before a high court review tomorrow. The FA, however, is alarmed
that Liverpool should openly use a live televised game to try to
influence the matter.
Rafael Benítez's players wore T-shirts bearing the slogan Free
Michael Now during their pre-match warm-up and the actress Sue
Johnston was invited on to the pitch with Shields' parents to make
a speech calling for the justice secretary, Jack Straw, to "do the
right thing".
A mosaic was held up in the Kop spelling out Free Michael Now
and the match-day programme contained an article declaring the
22-year-old's innocence. "Liverpool fan Michael Shields should be
here at Anfield for tonight's game," it began. "Instead, he will be
sitting in a prison cell."
The FA's concern is linked to the recent disciplinary case
against the Ipswich midfielder David Norris for supporting the
former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick. Norris had been
charged with improper conduct after making a handcuffs gesture in
dedication to McCormick, who had been sentenced to seven years in
prison for causing the death by dangerous driving of two young
brothers.
The FA's disciplinary department fined Norris £5,000 and is
alarmed that Liverpool should also publicly back someone convicted
of a serious crime and, in the process, open themselves to
allegations of playing judge and jury.
The matter became a subject of controversy on radio phone-ins
yesterday and the FA will, at the very least, remind Liverpool that
it does not believe it is the club's role to take on such issues.
"We are not comfortable about this," one source told the
Guardian.
There is also an element of concern as Liverpool, according to
the FA, had not informed the authorities of their plans. In 1997,
their then striker Robbie Fowler was fined 2,000 Swiss francs by
Uefa for revealing a T-shirt expressing his support for the city's
sacked dock workers.
Using a snazzy riff on a famous fashion brand's logo,
Liverpool's Robbie Fowler reveals his support for the city's sacked
dockers after scoring a goal in 1997. Uefa responded by fining him
2,000 Swiss francs