Liverpool launch internal investigation after official Twitter account endorses 'joke' about the Munich air disaster

Joke playlist referenced 1958 tragedy

Liverpool have apologised after the club’s official Twitter account appeared to mock the Munich air disaster, and have launched an internal investigation.

The account (@LFC) had asked supporters to tweet their suggestions for a three-song playlist that should be played over the Anfield Tannoy system before the Premier League match against rivals Manchester United on Sunday, and seemed to endorse one fan’s reply of Frank Sinatra’s ‘Come Fly With Me’, Eric Idle’s ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ and Reel 2 Reel's 'I Like to Move It' in reference to the plane crash which claimed the lives of 23 people – eight of whom were Manchester United players – in Munich in 1958.

Replying to the fan’s three distasteful suggestions, the official Liverpool FC account wrote: “Have you been sneaking a look at the dressing room iPod?' The tweet has since been deleted, but not before thousands of Manchester United fans had complained.

This morning Liverpool released a statement regarding the incident: "Liverpool Football Club responded quickly to correct the error of judgement that was made last night on its official Twitter account in responding to a distasteful and inappropriate Tweet. The Club took decisive action and the comment was deleted swiftly.

“We apologise, unreservedly, for any offence that was caused by this mistake."

The club have launched an internal investigation into how it happened and are not thought to be ruling out strong action.

A Manchester United spokesman said: "We welcome the apology."