Stephen Warnock apologises for his live TV remarks before friendly

Stephen Warnock apologises for his live TV remarks which were made before a pre-season friendly on Sunday afternoon at Anfield.

The former Premier League footballer was on punditry duty ready for Liverpool’s kick off against Athletic Bilbao, which ended up being delayed.

The fixture was due to start at 4pm, but large queues grew bigger outside the ground due to teething problems with the new ticketing system, which meant kick-off was put back by 30 minutes.

Absolute chaos outside Anfield. Massive queues outside the ground. No way this can kick off in 20 mins! @LFC pic.twitter.com/xL3dtmEDWR

— Dave Edwards jft97 💙⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🇪🇺 (@eddyedwards6859) August 8, 2021

Warnock has since apologised for making comments that “caused offence” to the Hillsborough families when talking about the delay.

Liverpool have introduced Near Field Communication for stadium access this season – this means an electronic pass is downloaded into a digital wallet on a mobile phone which is then scanned for entry.

Former Liverpool man Warnock spoke on LFCTV, alongside Nigel Spackman and presenter Becky Davies, discussing about the situation as it was unfolding.

Warnock first said: “I think what was always going to be the issue is bringing back people back into the ground safely. Making sure it is done in the correct manner.

“It has obviously been a little bit of an issue. Probably, maybe fans turning up a little bit late and just expecting it to be normal.

“We don’t know the problems, but it just shows that this is a game everyone wants to attend and be part of.”

Spackman added: “We were sat upstairs weren’t we saying: ‘It doesn’t look that full yet’.”

Davies then replied to Spackman, saying: “We were thinking: ‘What’s going on?’”

Spackman responded: “And you said they all come out the pub and get on the pop” – before Davies quickly replied: “I did not say that”.

Spackman then continued: “You did say that,” with Davies saying in response: “Just to confirm that is a lie.”

The former Reds midfielder then concluded by saying: “I’m only joking, that is me saying that.

“But I just think everyone wants to be here for the game and they have done right to delay the kick-off that’s for sure. Let everybody in because everybody has waited for this and they are waiting patiently as well as we are.”

Warnock has since held his hands up for what he feels could have inadvertently upset people impacted by the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 where 96 Liverpool supporters were unlawfully killed following a series of failures by police, the ambulance service, as well as defects within the stadium.

The families who have suffered for 27 years are seeking justice after lies from senior officers, slurs in newspapers and an alleged police cover-up to put blame on the supporters.

The Hillsborough inquests jury concluded it was police – not fans – who caused or contributed to the deaths of 96 men, women and children.

Warnock posted a video on Twitter, saying: “It was great to be back at LFC tonight with LFC TV, but I am aware some of my comments pre-match about the delayed kick off caused offence.

“I hold my hands up and I apologise. I was trying to say in Covid times with the new ticketing system, it would be difficult to stick to the usual routine people have going to the game.

“I have grown up a Liverpool fan, I understand the history of Hillsborough, the fight for justice and the lies that stood in the way.

“It was not my intention for a second to add to those false narratives with what I said today.

“I wouldn’t have been able to sleep tonight knowing that the people I offended and I hope that you can accept my apology, especially those associated with the Hillsborough families.”

Fans gave their reaction as Stephen Warnock apologises for his live TV remarks before friendly…

Can’t believe he had to apologise. God help us.🙈

— Mark LFC (@MarkEdw02850591) August 9, 2021

@Michael_LFC78: Fair play for the apology but im shocked it was necessary … the context was very obvious …. The ‘joke’ was about a pre match beer, that’s it! If any Hillsborough connotation is linked to the comment it’s been chosen to be. In no way was there malice … just a joke

@JimGALVIN10: Maybe next time stop think then comment. I arrived at the ground over an hour before kick off faced with massive queues and you assume it’s our fault. Pathetic when was the last time you did the same actually bought a ticket and queued to get in Stephen – have you ever? Doubt it

@fionnoulalfc: Don’t need to apologise YNWA

@WillM66: Yes he does.

@AndythePandy_: Gah, you said you were joking at the time! Anyone who is offended needs to lighten up and clearly hasn’t learnt anything from the last year! If I’d seen the game was delayed I’d have stayed in a local pub and another beer, they’ve missed out over the last year too 😂

@_FreddieBoswell: No need to apologise Ste. You are a good lad.

@judge1783: No need to apologise Stephen. I watched it and could tell the context it was said in.

@cmckopite1983: No need to apologise at all, it was obvious there was no malice in it. World we live in saddens me. Over reacting is the go to thing now.

@stebsy: As a hillsborough survivor your comments didn’t even register to anything hillsborough related . We all have our pre and post match routines and having a drink or a pie is definitely most people’s . No apologies needed but appreciated

@VitinhoXLFC: Let’s be honest Stephen, the whole show was to not say a single bad word about the club & it got so bad you even blamed the fans when it was clearly the clubs issue, it was hard to watch & there wasn’t any real opinions at all, just puppetry the whole time

@DelfinaBeatle53: You apologised. You were insensitive and you knew it, but you owned it, and apologised. That’s fair play to me. Just think next time mate.

@Ballo_1991: Probably never even crossed his mind tbh, hes one of us and a Liverpool fan first and foremost highly doubt he meant anything about Hillsborough

@HowardCover: I didn’t hear what you said, as I was queuing to get in the ground! But I remember seeing you take a commemorative wreath to lay behind the Kop goal when you played for Blackburn Rovers. I know you get it, the club, the fans, the families and the fight for justice #YNWA #JFT97

@cubbycub1981: No need to apologise. It was obvious there was no malice in it.

@LFCHistoryShow: Owned it, apologised, well in lad. Old St Bede’s boy doing it right. No big Stephen, move on refollow would be great, get you in to see the show next time. YNWA Redman.

@Phillevell: The world has gone mad!!!

@SpartacusLFC: I tweeted you immediately as I was angry at your comments. However I don’t believe it was meant as an intentional slight on us fans and I’m pleased you’ve clarified/apologised. 👍

@bobby_kheela: Apology accepted Stephen, time to draw a line under it and move on. Nobody can ever doubt your allegiance to LFC and least of all your compassion which will be matched by all LFC fans for the victims of Hillsborough. We all make mistakes there go I for the grace of god. #YNWA

@SilentBoatman: It did concern me when you said it, but I also know there was no malice or intention to upset anyone. Live TV is difficult to cope with, but you had the strength of mind to apologise, which is good enough for me. YNWA

@baldypaul: Anyone can make a mistake mate. Well done for owning yours. Take care. #YNWA

@TTWAR62: Good man Stephen. From my standpoint apology accepted. We all mess up from time to time.

@cobkop: It was obviously an off the cuff joke, about having a pre match pint, I understand you have to be careful not to offend anyone but to be apologising for an obvious harmless joke is a bit much,i didn’t think an apology was necessary but I’m not that easily offended so who’s to say

@CwirralDave: Good good man….things are said in the rush of time

@Jophes86: It was a silly thing to do, but you know that. Well done for holding your hands up, not many people have the bottle to do that.

@daveyb___93: Takes a big man to do this. Fair play.

@jjb_1970: Fair play to Warnock for apologising. Those who are saying their was no need for an apology can fuckin do one!

Didn’t mean any harm, zero malice, Stephens a red through and through. He loves the club, it’s fans and would never intentionally do anything to upset anyone! Well done for heading it on with an apology Stephen YNWA pic.twitter.com/DENVF2ed79

— Deax 🟩 (@Michael_Deax) August 9, 2021