ANOTHER SCOUSE MYTH EXPLODES

Last updated : 22 April 2003 By Editor
The Guardian reports:

England striker Wayne Rooney is facing a police probe after
allegations he spat at Liverpool fans during Saturday's
Merseyside derby.

The incident was one of a number of unsavoury occurrences
over the weekend which started on Good Friday when the
Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield was attacked with blue
paint - in the same week Liverpool fans were marking the
14th anniversary of the disaster when 96 people died.

"What happened is very, very regrettable," said a Liverpool
spokesman.

"As soon as it was reported that there was some paint on the
Hillsborough memorial, we cleaned it up."

The following day the Dixie Dean statue at Goodison Park was
daubed with splashes of red paint and during the game one
Everton fan ran on to the pitch and threw a blue scarf over
Salif Diao's head.

There was also sporadic trouble between opposing fans after
the game, although a police spokesman played down the
clashes, adding: "There were several minor incidents. No
arrests were made."