Supporters of Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund have been nominated for FIFA’s inaugural Fan Award.
An all-star panel of Gabriel Batistuta, Zvonimir Boban, Marta and Vladimir Petkovic were involved in the shortlisting of the Reds fans and their Bundesliga counterparts.
World football’s governing body identified the two clubs’ meeting in the Europa League quarter-final as one of three outstanding moments or gestures in 2016.
Anfield’s rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ before the last eight tie in April was cited as a seminal moment on the eve of the anniversary of Hillsborough.
“Anybody who has ever been to Anfield can profess to the remarkable noise when ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, a song adopted by the Reds’ fans in the early 1960s, is sung by the home support,” FIFA’s statement read.
“The tune has since travelled around the world, transcending language barriers.
“German giants Borussia Dortmund have adopted the anthem, and their fans joined Liverpool supporters in a chorus of solidarity ahead of their April UEFA Europa League meeting, with the Hillsborough disaster’s 27th anniversary the following day.
“The moving gesture put sporting rivalry aside for a few minutes.”
Iceland’s now iconic ‘thunder clap’ celebration which greeted their country’s remarkable run to the Euro 2016 quarter final was another of moment singled out.
The other concerned fans of ADO Den Haag, who gave their backing to Rotterdam charity Sophia Children’s Hospital during a game with Feyenoord.
Supporters from the Dutch club delivered soft toys to the children sat in the tier beneath them at De Kuip Stadium in September of this year.