Chelsea apologise for fans' behaviour during silence
- Published
The intended minute's silence had to be cut short after the disturbances from sections of Chelsea fans
Chelsea said they were "extremely disappointed" and "embarrassed" after their fans failed to observe a minute's silence at the FA Cup semi-final.
The intended silence was meant to be a tribute to the Liverpool supporters who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
But after sections of Chelsea supporters disrupted the silence at Wembley referee Martin Atkinson was forced to cut the minute short.
Chelsea beat Tottenham 5-1 in the semi-final to reach their 11th FA Cup final.
But their victory was marred by the behaviour of the fans who ruined the minute's silence, intended to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the tragedy, when 96 fans were killed at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
In the final on 5 May Chelsea will play Liverpool, who beat Everton 2-1 on Saturday.
"Moments of respect should be honoured and we pay our full respects to all those that suffered at Hillsborough," the Chelsea club statement concluded.