Eamonn Holmes apologises after comparing Manchester United bus attack to Hillsborough disaster

The presenter clarified there is 'no comparison' between violent scenes at West Ham and the tragedy at Hillsborough which killed 96 football fans

Eamonn Holmes has apologised following criticism he received for comparing the Hillsborough disaster to the attack on the Manchester United bus at West Ham.

The Manchester United team bus was hit with bottles, cans and other objects as it arrived at Upton Park, in east London, for West Ham’s last game at the stadium on Tuesday evening.

Some players lay down in the aisles to avoid getting hit by the objects, being thrown by some West Ham supporters, which damaged the coach.

Discussing the incident on Sky News this morning, Holmes said: “This is going back to the 70s and 80s and everything you were seeing that was bad about Hillsborough, for instance.”

After receiving criticism over the comparison, the presenter defended his comments on Twitter, saying they have been used by some trying to “stir up trouble”. Holmes apologised to anybody who thought he was making a connection between the two incidents and also clarified: “Last night’s events do not remotely register in comparison [to Hillsborough].”

After the comments were aired, Holmes began receiving criticism from social media users who branded his comments “idiotic” and “ridiculous”. The daughter of one of the Hillsborough victims, Charl Hennessy, also said she was “very upset” to hear his comments.

Man Utd captain Wayne Rooney later discussed the West Ham incident, saying: “It wasn’t nice. The coach got smashed up […] I’m sure you’ll see the images. That’s not for me to say, but I think it was disappointing of course. We know it’s a big game for West Ham, big night for them, leaving the stadium, but I’m sure West Ham as a club will be disappointed with what the fans have done.”

On Wednesday West Ham said the fans involved in the attack will be banned from the club for life.

“It was an extraordinary night full of extraordinary moments in front of extraordinary fans. 99 per cent of whom behaved impeccably and were a credit to the club. […] However, we are aware that there were some supporters outside the Boleyn Ground who didn’t act in an appropriate way when the Manchester United team bus was damaged.

“That was not acceptable and we will work with the police to identify those responsible and ban them for life,” the club said in a statement.

The verdict of a lengthy inquest into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster was given two weeks ago. The inquest found that the 96 who died were “unlawfully killed” and that behaviour of the supporters at the game did not contribute to the human crush.