Video: Liverpool’s new kit unveiled… along with some controversy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWqXQl9eOgk

Liverpool’s brand new kit, from new manufacturers Warrior, was revealed yesterday, but some fans aren’t happy. Here’s why.

Liverpool signed a very lucrative new kit deal last year with Warrior, an American company who are more associated with lacrosse. Anyway, with the deal reported to be worth £25million a year, fans won’t care to much what they did before so long as this kit is good.

And, as you can see above, they have gone back to the glory days of the Anfield giants, with a kit very reminiscent of the late 1970s/early 1980s version the Reds wore in their pomp, even changing te badge to the traditional yellow.

But the removal of the current badge has caused a problem. The old badge featured two flames, symbolising the fight for justice for the victims of Hillsborough. While Liverpool did consult the Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG) over moving the flames, along with the number ‘96’ to the back of the shirt, other Hillsborough campaign groups were not consulted.

The Hillsborough Justice Campaign (HJC) are not happy about being excluded.

A HJC statement read: "We have noted that the Hillsborough flames and '96' will now appear on the back of the shirt 'after consultation with family members'.

"We can confirm that no bereaved families of the HJC were contacted or consulted. The first we were aware of this was via the minutes of the Supporters' Committee March meeting. Once again LFC has chosen to ignore the HJC and their families.

"The continued refusal of the club to acknowledge the HJC is insensitive, divisive and deplorable - 96 is more than a number. LFC would do well to remember that."

Liverpool responded with this statement: "The club consulted with the HFSG committee and shared a number of alternative designs which were considered.

"The committee selected a design, which includes the number 96 to recognise those who lost their lives. Nobody has more respect for the 96 and their families than this football club."

We’ll have to see how this plays out but the issue proves how raw, understandably, the emotions around the Hillsborough tragedy still are.