The Hillsborough Family Support Group today said that holding a minute’s silence at football grounds as a tribute to Baroness Thatcher would be “a disgrace and insult to all fans”.
The group were formed by families who lost loved ones in the stadium disaster in 1989.
Margaret Aspinall, chair of the HFSG, spoke out after a number of figures within the game called on the sport to honour the passing of the former Prime Minister.
Reading chairman John Madejski and Wigan owner Dave Whelan have both voiced their support for a minute’s silence but the Premier League, the Football League and the Football Association have not asked clubs to pay tribute to the former Prime Minister, who died on Monday.
The Premier League are meeting tomorrow, although the matter is not on the agenda but it is likely informal discussions over a Thatcher tribute could occur.
The Premier League’s stance has, however, been clear from the outset: a minute’s silence has never been held for politicians and it is unlikely an exception will be made. Periods of respect are reserved for individuals with a strong connection to football or a particular club and national tragedies.
Thatcher’s death does not fall into either category and in any case, there are doubts a minute’s silence would be properly observed for a former Prime Minister who still divides public opinion so markedly.
Saracens, meanwhile, today announced they will be holding a minute’s silence ahead of their Premiership game at home to Worcester on Sunday.
