Taunting songs and chants from Manchester United fans during a game against Wigan Athletic have drawn rebukes from the club and Man United coach Alex Ferguson.

A small section of supporters at Old Trafford targeted Liverpool in the wake of an investigative report into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster that cited police malfeasance that shifted blame from officials to Liverpool fans. Ninety-six people died at an FA Cup match against Nottingham Forest when Liverpool fans pushed their way into an already overcrowded section behind the Liverpool goal.

United released a statement in reaction to the behavior that read in part: "The club deplores it. The manager has made the club's position very clear on this matter. It is now up to the fans to respect that." A chant that included the words "It's never your fault, it's never your fault, always the victims, it's never your fault," was heard from a section of fans in the Stretford End.

The Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) issued a statement that said the chants did not refer to the Hillsborough disaster, and it also decried comments from opposing fans that mocked the Munich airplane disaster of 1958, in which eight United players were killed. The issue is particularly volatile because United and Liverpool play next weekend. Ferguson said, "I think it's a moment for those two great clubs to show why they're two great clubs. I don't anticipate any problems."