Anfield trip ruined as family 'spat at' and 'racially abused'

A family say they were spat at and racially abused when they visited Anfield stadium as part of a birthday treat.

Liverpool FC fan Salim Ahmed, said he, his wife and three children were outside his team's ground when a group of youths on bikes began to spit at them.

The 39-year-old, from Bristol, said one of the gang later called him racist names during the incident on 7 August.

Merseyside Police said the incident was "despicable" and that the force would "not tolerate hate crime".

Ahmed said the family had arrived in Liverpool earlier in the day, and went to Anfield ahead of the pre-season friendly with AS Monaco they planned to watch on Sunday, 9 August.

He said the family - including his older son, who was celebrating his 13th birthday, his other son, nine, and his seven-year-old daughter - were looking at murals outside the ground when they were assaulted.

"Just as the five of us were looking at that, we suddenly heard the noise and then the feeling of spit land on us.

"We've never been spat on before... so we turned around... and saw there was a group of kids who were riding past us.

"We could feel it in our hair and on our clothes."

He added there had been "no provocation whatsoever" and that the family had had their back to the youths when the abuse began.

Ahmed said he got his family out of the way and to safety, before returning to challenge one of the youths over their behaviour.

At that point, one of them used a racist slur towards him, he said.

Police said the youth was described as white, aged between 13 and 15, was wearing dark blue shorts and a light grey top with dark sleeves.

Ahmed said his family had "experienced something no-one should have to" that had left the children "quite apprehensive, initially".

"There are some people who are not so nice, but most people aren't like that," he said.

But he added the "small, isolated incident" had "spoilt" the family's day.

Ch Insp Andrew Fielding said: "We will not tolerate hate crime or violence in our communities, and be assured that we will assess all information received and take appropriate action."

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