Egypt footballer hails Liverpool fans on Hillsborough anniversary

Legendary Egyptian footballer Mohammad Aboutrika hailed Liverpool fans for honoring the 96 fans that died in the Hillsborough Stadium disaster.

The English club supporters on Sunday paid tribute to 96 fans that lost their lives at Hillsborough, which marks its 25th anniversary this upcoming Tuesday.

The fans held up a mosaic spelling out "96 25 years" during the minute of silence prior to Liverpool's Premier League match against Manchester City.

In remarks over the memorial, Aboutrika supported Liverpool fans in a post on his Twitter account for honoring the Hillsborough victims.

“Respecting human beings and their feelings are things that cannot be purchased nor are subject to any religion, thanks Liverpool fans,” the veteran footballer tweeted.

tweet

Aboutrika also played for Egypt’s giants al-Ahly before he retired in December of last year.

In 1989, 96 Liverpool fans were killed after an overcrowded standing-only section collapsed during an FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium. Play was halted in the sixth minute.

The Liverpool incident brings back memories of al-Ahly disastrous game in Egypt’s Port Said stadium, where 70 people died in 2012.

Aboutrika was widely reported to have carried a dying teenager among the Ahly fans during the tragic game.

It was also reported that he spent the weeks that followed the Port Said disaster attending funerals of the victims.

(With AP)