Manchester City have written to supporters warning against the use of tragedy chanting during Saturday's top-of-the-table Premier League clash with Liverpool.
The Reds travel to the Etihad in the weekend's early Premier League kick-off. Sky Sports had originally hoped the fixture would be broadcast as part of their Saturday tea-time slot but local authorities rejected that proposal last month due to an increasing number of off-field issues between the two sides.
In recent seasons, Manchester City supporters, at both Anfield and Wembley, have taunted the Reds' following with the mocking of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which saw 97 supporters lose their lives.
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After last season's 1-0 loss at Anfield, the ECHO learned that City had sanctioned "significant bans" for supporters who had been identified for "throwing offences and mocking Hillsborough".
Meanwhile, during a Carabao Cup tie between the two sides at the Etihad last December, on a night where the Reds were handed an away allocation in the excess of 5,400, Greater Manchester Police were forced to launch an investigation after a 15-year-old girl was left with injuries after a bottle filled with coins was tossed from the away end into the home crowd. The incident occurred just days after both club chiefs Billy Hogan and Ferran Soriano wrote a joint letter urging fans to concentrate solely on the on-pitch rivalry.
In an effort to end such hostilities before Saturday's encounter, City have written to home supporters in possession of a ticket to remind them of their "zero-tolerance approach" to " tragedy-related comments, chanting, or gesture-making" and other "abusive behaviour".
"We ask all fans to join us in creating a positive environment and atmosphere, where everyone is welcomed, accepted and has a fantastic matchday experience," read an email to supporters, seen by the ECHO, on Thursday afternoon.
"As part of this, we operate a zero-tolerance approach to all discriminatory and abusive behaviour including any form of Racism, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Antisemitism or Sexism. Such behaviour may include abusive tragedy-related comments, chanting, or gesture-making.
"If you see or hear such behaviour, talk to a steward or the police, or report it on the Kick It Out app."
Kopites have also been reminded of their behaviour ahead of Saturday's fixture after an email was sent to match-going supporters warning that anyone caught "throwing objects" will be subject to club, and possibly police, sanctions as both sides look to tackle the rising levels of antisocial behaviour.
Liverpool have been allocated 2,700 tickets for the crunch Premier League clash.
