Liverpool have been forced to issue an apology after an embarrassing mistake led to video footage of an alleged racist gesture by a fan being broadcast on their official website.
Highlights of Saturday’s FA Cup win over Manchester United were available to watch on Monday afternoon, but they contained a clip of the alleged gesture, for which a 59-year-old man was arrested at the weekend.
Liverpool will issue a life ban to the man if he is found guilty of a racial offence, but admitted that they had erred by allowing the footage to be broadcast.
A spokesman said: ‘We can confirm that footage featuring an alleged incident during the match has mistakenly appeared on the club’s website.
‘This was a mistake, it should not have been included and we are sorry it happened. It was removed immediately when it was brought to our attention.’
Patrice Evra was booed during the game at Anfield, which was the first meeting between the sides since the Luis Suarez affair, and PFA chief Gordon Taylor believes players may be deterred from reporting racist abuse after witnessing his treatment.
Taylor said: ‘The booing of Evra was unwelcome. For someone to be booed for reporting racist comments is not something we want to see happen.
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