Manchester United fan is charged with displaying threatening or abusive writing likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress after wearing a shirt mocking the Hillsborough disaster at the FA Cup final
A Manchester United fan has been charged after he was arrested for wearing a shirt mocking the Hillsborough disaster at the FA Cup final.
Metropolitan Police stated that James White, 33, has been bailed to appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Monday 19 June.
White was charged with displaying threatening or abusive writing likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Images circulated online of the individual wearing a shirt saying ‘Not enough 97’ on the back ahead of the FA Cup final between Manchester United and Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday.
The shirt referenced the Hillsborough disaster, in which 97 Liverpool supporters died in 1989.
A Man United fan was pictured in a vile shirt referencing the 1989 Hillsborough disaster
Police are pictured with the United supporter outside of Wembley on Saturday afternoon
The fans died as a result of a crush at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough in 1989.
An inquest jury ruled in 2016 that the Liverpool fans had been unlawfully killed amid police errors.
A statement from Metropolitan Police read: ‘A man has been charged after being arrested during the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. James White, 33, of Warwickshire was charged on Sunday June, 4, with displaying threatening or abusive writing likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
‘He was bailed to appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Monday 19 June. He was arrested after being seen wearing a shirt which appeared to refer in offensive terms to those who died in the Hillsborough tragedy.’
The FA released a statement condemning the action of the fan, which read: ‘The FA strongly condemns the actions of the individual who wore a shirt referencing the Hillsborough disaster ahead of the Emirates FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
97 Liverpool supporters died following a crush at Hillsborough in April 1989
‘We saw a photograph of the offensive shirt on social media and immediately started working to identify the perpetrator.
‘Our security team were able to quickly locate the individual based on the image, and we welcome the swift action which was then taken by the police.
‘We will not tolerate abuse relating to Hillsborough or any football tragedy at Wembley Stadium and we will continue to work with the authorities to ensure strong action is taken against perpetrators.’
The Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance wrote: ‘HSA was alerted to this despicable act on twitter and we at Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance would like to thank The FA, Metropolitan police and security staff at Wembley for their swift action and arrest.
‘We would also like to thank the messages of support that we have received from all genuine Manchester United fans, and fans from other clubs for their support.’
City won the FA Cup final 2-1 against United, with Ilkay Gundogan scoring twice, while Bruno Fernandes was on the scoresheet for United.
