Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has criticized his own fans for the homophobic chants that they made during the Reds’ match against Norwich City last weekend. Liverpool fans targeted Norwich City midfielder Billy Gilmour, who is currently on loan from Chelsea, with a derisive chant.
In an interview with Paul Amann, a Liverpool fan and founder of Kop Out, an LGBT Liverpool fan group, Klopp condemned his fans and stated that the disdainful songs are a waste of time.
“From a player or coach perspective, I can see these songs don’t help as well as it’s like a waste of time. It’s definitely a waste of time because I hear in the stadium when they start singing Bobby Firmino, Mo Salah, You’ll Never Walk Alone. This kind of stuff gives you goosebumps and a push.
“The other songs are completely a waste of time and if you think [believe] what you sing, you are an idiot. If you don’t think about what you’re singing in that situation, it’s just a waste of time, forget it and go for another song,” said the Liverpool manager.
Klopp, in no uncertain terms, told the Liverpool fans not to sing the homophobic song and said he doesn’t want to listen to it anymore.
The song directed at Gilmour mentions “Chelsea rent boy”, a homophobic slur that refers to a young male prostitute. The chant is reported to have originated in the 1980s, with many alleging that it came about after a Chelsea fan was found having sex with a young male prostitute.
The Liverpool manager believes we live in a time where we learn and hopes the Liverpool fans do the same regarding the homophobic chants.
“We obviously live in a time where we learn a lot in the moment. I’m 54 now and when I was 20, we said so many things which we didn’t think about. And meanwhile, thank God 34 years later we learned it’s just not right to say,” said Klopp.
Liverpool was quick to condemn the chanting the day after the match and urged fans to remember the inclusive values of Liverpool.
Liverpool faced Norwich City at Carrow Road on the opening weekend of the Premier League 2021-22 season. The Reds breezed past the Canaries, winning 3-0 in Norwich’s return to English football’s top-flight. Goals from Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino, and Mohamed Salah helped secure a comfortable win for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
