PERSPECTIVE

Last updated : 24 February 2006 By Editor
After the news reports of the last few days Mark Longden has a voice of reason.

“I cannot condone behaviour of this kind but I will not condemn the vast majority of Liverpool fans for the actions of a very small minority,” said Longden, chairman of the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association.

“If you look back through history, there have been similar, isolated, but wholly unacceptable acts from both sets of supporters, so in a sense it is not really a surprise.

“But we have to be careful not to get the whole thing out of proportion.

“There is a historic rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool which people should not attempt to diminish.

“Those who go too far should be dealt with by the authorities but without tribal loyalties, there would be no game.”