Nottingham Forest fans criticised for singing ‘always the victims’ chant against Liverpool

The chant is in reference to the Hillsborough disaster.

Nottingham Forest fans have been criticised after they were heard singing offensive chants towards Liverpool fans at the City Ground on Saturday. Forest supporters could be heard singing "always the victims", a chant strongly associated with the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, where 97 fans tragically lost their lives in an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Forest. Those in attendance at the East Midlands could also be heard singing another offensive chant aimed at the away support throughout the game. Liverpool Echo journalist Ian Doyle was the first two pick up on the songs, tweeting: "'Always the victims' is the shout from a group of Forest fans. Some were already singing 'Sign on' before the game had even started." https://twitter.com/IanDoyleSport/status/1583784475376644096 Meanwhile, James Pearce of The Athletic tweeted late in the first half: "'Always the victims' for the third time from the Forest fans." https://twitter.com/JamesPearceLFC/status/1583791302474313728 Several others also criticised the home fans for the chants. One person wrote: "Nottingham Forest fans, who fortunately for them had the opposite end at Hillsborough in 1989, showing all their self-awareness there. Grim." https://twitter.com/JayMcKenna87/status/1583785335095721989 Another tweeted: "Baffles me how Forest fans can sing “always the victims” when it easily could have been them that day at Hillsborough." https://twitter.com/Karen31_x/status/1583800003297886209 A third said: "Hillsborough could've happened to any fanbase in this country which makes it especially horrifying people sing about it with glee. But Forest doing it when the only reason it didn't happen to them is because they were given the other end of the stadium is especially horrific." Forest secured a vital win to take them off the bottom of the table as Taiwo Awoniyi reacted quickest to prod home the ball past Alisson and earn the hosts their second win of the season. https://twitter.com/FootballJOE/status/1583802907006115840 Related links:

• Man City privately apologise to Hillsborough Survivors group after fans mocked 1989 disaster
• Three Hillsborough survivors have taken their lives since 2022 Champions League Final
• Martin Tyler criticised for calling Hillsborough a ‘hooligan related issue’