Jurgen Klopp's response to Liverpool fans' national anthem boos makes key point

Jurgen Klopp has offered a passionate defence of the Liverpool supporters who chose to boo during the national anthem before kick-off at the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.

And the Liverpool boss argued that instead of resorting to dog whistle politics, which condemn out of hand their democratic right to protest, people should actually examine the important reasons behind their stance.

Predictably, the right wing media which campaigns for 'free speech' when it suits their agenda, were outraged when the Reds faithful expressed their own right to offer their own comment on establishment attitudes towards their city and club.

Asked about the booing, Klopp offered an impassioned response, arguing that he has his own thoughts on the right to do it, but the bigger question is, why it happens? "Of course I have thoughts. But in these situations I think it's always best to ask the question 'why do they do it?'" Klopp said. "I know our people well enough that they would not do it if there was no reason. I am not here long enough to understand the reason. But it is for sure something historical, and that's a question you can answer better than I ever could."

Liverpool fans, and the wider population of the city, have held a long held suspicion of the establishment, after some horrific policies of 'managed declined' aimed by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government in the 1980s. But more significant is the cover up following the Hillsborough tragedy, where 97 people were unlawfully killed by the fatal errors of the police, stadium authorities and emergency services.

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The cover up of Hillsborough included a vicious smear campaign against the victims and their families and the entire Liverpool fanbase themselves by government and police, which has led to a breakdown of trust by the city towards the wider UK authorities. And Klopp indicated that he totally understood that position, from a fanbase he argues is amongst the best in the world - and within their rights to protest at being failed by the country.

"Our fans, and I know a few fans from other clubs see it slightly differently, the majority are wonderful people, smart and go through lows and highs, suffer together," he added. "They wouldn't do it if there was no reason. That's what I know. Maybe we should ask this question."

Liverpool supporters showed their disdain for the authorities who failed them, and the establishment who conspired to hide the truth, with a passionate rejection of the national anthem on Wembley.