Itandje Plays Down Hillsborough Indiscretion

By Danny Wright

Liverpool goalkeeper Charles Itandje says the media have over exaggerated his behaviour during the Hillsborough memorial service, which lead the club to suspend the player for 14 days.

Itandje was punished after he appeared to be laughing during the emotional ceremony on Wednesday, where 28,000 Liverpool supporters gathered at Anfield to remember the 96 lives lost at Hillsborough, 20-years on from the disaster.

The club deemed the keeper’s actions unacceptable and inappropriate, and manager Rafa Benetiz told the Frenchman not to report to training last Friday.

The 26-year-old has played down his actions though, despite previously apologising for his behaviour.

“It is a 30-second video montage that was given senseless proportions. My behaviour should be judged over a one-hour video,” Itandje told Sunday’s French newspaper Aujourd’hui Sport.

“You know the papers here (in Britain), they do a lot with not much. I even heard I was dancing!”

“What happened will not do much to change my situation at the club since I am already on the transfer list.”

The remarks will no doubt spark further unrest from media and mourners alike, deservedly so given the insensitive nature of the stopper’s actions.

“I think he should be sacked,” said Les Lawson of the Liverpool Supporters’ Club.

“It’s good that Liverpool Football Club have acted quickly and suspended him but I don’t think he should ever set foot in the club again.”

Itandje initially issued a seemingly heart-felt and profound apology, telling the Liverpool Echo: “First of all, if my behaviour has caused offence to anyone then I can only apologise. I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry. A thousand times, I am sorry.”

“To the club, to the fans and especially to the families, I am deeply sorry. It was, of course, never my intention to offend or disrespect anyone,”

“The events at Hillsborough were a tragedy and in no way did I mean to disrespect the memory of what happened 20 years ago. I would never do that,”

“I would like to speak to the families in person to offer my apologies to them because, like I said, I never meant to hurt anyone.”

However, his latest remarks undermine his apology somewhat, and put into doubt his commitment to the club following the suspension.