CARLSBERG SUN FURY
CARLSBERG came a cropper today as Liverpool fans spoke out about their promotion deal in that newpaper we don't mention that often.
CARLSBERG today scrapped a promotion with The Sun newspaper after a furious backlash from Liverpool fans.
The Danish brewer had planned to link up with the tabloid newspaper to give readers a free pint over this month's bank holiday weekend.
But the move was met with derision from some Liverpool fans, who were angry the club's shirt sponsor was working with a newspaper hated by many in Merseyside.
Reds' supporters still boycott The Sun because of its coverage of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans died.
Carlsberg were today holding emergency talks ahead of a formal decision to axe the promotion.
Fans' groups had written to Anfield officials asking for their thoughts on the decision, suggesting Carlsberg's sponsorship of the club is reviewed.
A spokesman for supporters union The Spirit Of Shankly said: "Carlsberg could have made a more careful choice.
"Lots of people were saying they should not sponsor us if they are doing things like this.
"There is no bigger issue for most Liverpool fans than Hillsborough and The Sun, and sensitivity was called for."
The Carlsberg offer would have been made through vouchers printed in The Sunwhich were to be exchanged for a free pint in 13,000 pubs over the bank holiday weekend.
Liverpool fans bombarded beer trade website The Publican with reaction to the Carlsberg deal, many describing it as "insensitive".
Ben wrote: "Lost for words. There's no way on God's earth I'll ever buy that stuff again."
Leopold wrote: "Disgusting! LFC should sever all connections with Carlsberg after this, utter disrespect for the 96 and the loyal fans who actively campaign against that rag mag!"
The Sun provoked controversy when it carried a front page story making false claims about the behaviour of Liverpool supporters at Hillsborough.
Despite an apology, many Liverpool fans have never forgiven the paper.
A Carlsberg spokesman said: "We are quite aware there has been mistake and we are very sorry about this. We are doing all we can to repair the damage."
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i'm glad they axed the promotion fuck the sun!
Kelvin Mackenzie was responsible for the 1989 edition which rightly caused outrage.
It was offensive, stupid, untrue and heartless in the extreme.
But I don't think the current team of reporters at that paper is any less lacking in morals than the entire Echo workforce. Many of them are Liverpool fans.
The boycott is outdated and slightly irrelevant.
NEVER WILL THE BOYCOTT BE OUTDATED. AND IF YOUR A LIVERPOOL FAN THEN SHAME ON YOU. JUSTICE FOR THE 96.
alan,
this carlsberg row is a little contrived dont you think?
its not lfc putting the promotion in the sun, its carlsberg, a multi national beer company looking to maiximise its profits.
perhaps they could have thought about it a bit more carefully, but are you really that outraged?
I think Liverpool fans need to realise that they don't have a monopoly on Carlsberg and its activitys. As an ex Carlsberg employee I can assure you that as a company the Liverpool sponsorship is seen as a novelty that is used for corperate hospitality and by no means the biggest thing on the agenda.
The fact that nobody at Carlsberg realised this might cause offence amongst the small hardcore says it all. R.I.P 96
i find what Gareth said about the lot at the Echo being as bad as The Sun a bit suss...you sure ur not really called Kelvin, Gareth?
My understanding is that most, if not all, of the red tops made the same accusations as The Sun - the source of of the accusations was a Merseyside police chief. The only difference is The Sun used 'The Truth' headline.
Why aren't the other tabloids being boycotted?
From what I recall, the story was put together by a South Yorkshire police chief and a local politician. It was due to be run by all the papers until it came out that it was fabricated, at which point decided to pull it. Of those who ran the story, all apologised for it afterwards apart from The Sun, which stuck by it despite its lack of credibility.
It was a long time ago but I seem to remember something along the lines of what Rich said, that some early editions printed the story but then pulled it an apologised immediately when they realised they were being had off by a bent politician and a bobby with blood on his hands
the boycott isn't extended to other papers as they can't be blamed for printing a story in good faith when it comes from a supposedly reliable source. Its the lack of any apology or retraction that caused the outrage.
And I'm pretty sure the inquests into the deaths fingered South Yorkshire police for the misinformation - maybe any Merseyside copper that passed it on was simply repeating what he'd been told by 'a colleague on the ground'
The Daily Star and The Sun ran the same story, at the time, but only The Sun used the "Truth" headline.
The Star was quicker to backtrack, but most of the nationals at the time were rightly censured for printing photos of fans caught up in the tragedy.