AFTV month, the channel came under criticism for a video they posted in association with "The Sun" newspaper. The video featured Robbie and regulars DT and Ty, and it received backlash from many football fans, especially Liverpool supporters, who had boycotted "The Sun" due to controversial information on the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, which killed 96 Liverpool fans, which included allegations of Liverpool urinating on Police Officers and pickpocketing from dying supporters. Liverpool had recently banned the newspaper from attending press conferences and Everton also followed, following an article posted about Ross Barkley, which they had compared him to a gorilla
Hillsborough disaster Hillsborough by the newspaper. Everton F.C. followed in April 2017 on the eve of the 28th anniversary of the disaster after a column by Kelvin MacKenzie concerning Everton footballer Ross Barkley. MacKenzie was suspended as a contributor to the newspaper. The journalist Edward Pearce was criticised for writing a controversial article in the aftermath of the disaster, at a time when a number of victims' funerals were taking place. His column in "The Sunday Times" on 23 April 1989, included the text: "For the second time in half a decade a large body of Liverpool supporters has killed people ...