A long-serving Sunday Express football writer has lost his appeal against being dismissed for “gross misconduct” for writing a column criticising Liverpool FC fans, but plans to take the matter to an employment tribunal.

Colin Mafham, who worked as a journalist for 50 years, including 15 years with the Sunday title, was suspended in April after writing an online column in which he said LFC fans “frighten the living daylights” out of him and that trouble seems to follow them “like bees round a honey pot”.

In the article, headlined: “Liverpool must take serious action after Roma violence or risk further trouble”, Mafham drew comparisons between the actions of LFC fans at the 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster, which resulted in 14 LFC supporters being jailed for manslaughter, with Hillsborough.