Weekend Football Matches In England To Honor 1989 Hillsborough Disaster By Delaying Kickoffs

Every senior match in England will kick off "seven minutes later than normal this weekend as football marks the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster," when 96 Liverpool fans died at an FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest, according to Mike Collett of REUTERS. Nowhere will the "mark of respect carry greater significance than at Anfield, where Premier League leaders Liverpool face third-placed Manchester City in a match that will have a significant impact on who is going to emerge as champions this season." The FA Cup semifinal in '89 was "abandoned at neutral Hillsborough in Sheffield after six minutes, and an additional minute of silence will complete the seven-minute observation." Emotions at Anfield "will likely be running higher than normal." Liverpool coach Brendan Rodgers said, "I know there are 96 people in the sky who will always be supporting this team" (REUTERS, 4/10).