The Football Association has condemned a section of Manchester City's supporters after chants about the Hillsborough disaster during Saturday's win over Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola's side recovered from an early deficit to run out comfortable 4-1 winners against Jurgen Klopp's Reds at the Etihad Stadium.
But the game was marred by the conduct of some fans.
City issued their own apology after the match over damage to the Liverpool team bus as it left the stadium.
They also referred to "inappropriate chants", and now the FA has weighed in on a matter that is becoming a recurring source of anger.
"We are very concerned about the rise of abhorrent chants in stadiums that are related to the Hillsborough disaster and other football-related tragedies," read a widely reported statement.
"These chants are highly offensive and are deeply upsetting for the families, friends and communities who have been impacted by these devastating events, and we strongly condemn this behaviour.
"We support clubs and fans who try to stamp out this behaviour from our game.
"We also support the excellent work of the survivor groups who engage with stakeholders across football to help educate people about the damaging and lasting effects that these terrible chants can have."
It is not the first time the FA has been forced to condemn City supporters over chants relating to Hillsborough, with a similar incident last year leading to criticism from Guardiola.
Ninety-seven Liverpool fans lost their lives as a result of the disaster in 1989 during an FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest at the Sheffield Wednesday ground.
Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi likes the togetherness of his pacesetters
Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi thanked his stalwarts for embracing the slew of new recruits at San Siro as the Nerazzurri blaze a trail at the top of Serie A.
There was some concern that the formula which saw Inter go all the way to an unexpected Champions League final and claim a creditable third place in the league might be addled by the transfer overhaul that took place over the summer.
Although European stars including Benjamin Pavard and Marcus Thuram were thrown into the mix, many clubs have found it is not always easy to create a winning team in the short term based solely on the quality of talent recruited.
Inzaghi told a press conference: “Our squad has undergone a lot of changes, but the players who were already here have been important. They’ve helped the newcomers – however experienced they are – understand how to adapt to the Inter world.
“I see real willingness: everyone has been working excellently and in a really determined fashion since July.”
Inter host Sassuolo on Wednesday having thumped city rivals AC Milan 5-1, drawn away at Real Sociedad and squeezed past Empoli 1-0 on Sunday, with a trip to Salernitana on the schedule for the upcoming weekend.
“It’ll be our fourth match in 10 days, with many players having also been away on international duty and done plenty of travelling,” Inzaghi added.
“However, I’m lucky enough to coach a competitive squad. We still need to train this afternoon and then I’ll make my choices.”
On the threat posed by Sassuolo, the former Lazio striker said: “They come into this game having beaten Juventus thanks to a really good display and they have a excellent coach who has his team really well organised.
“We need to be determined as we look to produce a big performance.”
His opposite number in the Neroverdi dugout, Alessio Dionisi, led his side to a 4-2 triumph over Juve last time out and told reporters: “The victory has given us awareness, and we obtained a great result against a better team.
“We know what we did on Sunday will not be enough against Inter because right now they are superior. They are superior to everyone.
“We must try to be the best possible version of Sassuolo, we made it on Saturday and we must do the same tomorrow against a team that seems unplayable.
“We’ll need courage and personality.”
Sheffield United postpone Women’s Championship game after death of Maddy Cusack
Sheffield United’s FA Women’s Championship fixture against Crystal Palace, scheduled for this Saturday, has been postponed following the death of Maddy Cusack.
The 27-year-old, who had made over 100 appearances and also worked for the club as a marketing executive, died last Wednesday.
United said on social media: “Our @BarclaysWC fixture at Crystal Palace, scheduled for Saturday 30th September, has been postponed.
“The Blades asked for the game to be postponed following the recent devastating news of the passing of Maddy Cusack.
“A new date for the fixture will be announced in due course.”
The club paid tribute to Cusack before the men’s team’s Premier League game against Newcastle on Sunday, with players wearing shirts bearing her name and number and a minute’s silence held in her honour.
In a statement of their own, Palace said: “The thoughts and condolences of everybody at the club are with Maddy’s friends, family, team-mates and colleagues.”
Bukayo Saka an injury concern for Arsenal’s trip to Bournemouth
Bukayo Saka has added to Arsenal’s injury woes as Mikel Arteta revealed the England winger could miss the weekend trip to Bournemouth with a foot problem.
The 22-year-old scored from the penalty spot and saw a first-half shot deflected in by Cristian Romero as the Gunners drew 2-2 at home to north London rivals Tottenham on Sunday.
Saka, though, then limped off late in the game to be replaced by Emile Smith Rowe and will definitely miss Wednesday’s Carabao Cup third-round clash at Brentford, while his club-record run of 86 consecutive Premier League appearances is also under threat.
Declan Rice was replaced at half-time against Spurs with a back issue and forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard missed the game through injury, with Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey also sidelined.
Now Arteta is worried Saka – who has four goals as well as four assists from the first eight games of the campaign – could join that lengthy injury list.
“He was limping quite badly after the match,” said Arteta. “We had to get him off the field, which is never a good sign. He hasn’t been able to participate in the session.”
Asked if he could miss the Bournemouth game, Arteta added: “It’s a possibility, yes.”
None of the players currently on the treatment table will be available for the London derby against the Bees, with the same quintet unlikely to return in time for Saturday’s trip to the south coast.
Saka could yet make an appearance at the Vitality Stadium as Arteta once again highlighted the amount of football being played as a potential explanation for so many injuries.
“It’s true that they play with the national teams and they’re coming from a season where they had a World Cup and some players played 60-odd games,” he said.
“We’ve been unlucky. Jurrien, for example, was due to other reasons, while Bukayo was because someone stepped on him.
“There are some traumatic injuries, others are more muscular. We try to find the ways to avoid them but they’re a part of football.
“It’s true that we have a lot of internationals in the last few windows and they have quite a lot of exposure to minutes but at the moment we have a squad that is not 24 players. To change 11 or 12 players tomorrow is just not a possibility we have.”
Arteta suggested he could rotate at the Gtech Community Stadium, with fringe players and young talent in line for a rare chance to impress.
“There are a lot of players who need minutes,” he said. “If you go through the squad there are lots of players who haven’t had minutes and they are going to need exposure, that’s for sure.
“We all trained today. The line up, we could not make it because there are still some players who are doubtful. So I will decide the best team to put out there.”
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