Court have heard what Man Utd fan James White told police upon his arrest with a ‘grandad’ excuse used for his grim Hillsborough shirt.
The Mirror report that he laughed in court while he was banned from football for four years told police that the message on his shirt mocking Hillsborough victims had been made to honour his grandfather.
James White, 33, pleaded guilty Monday to displaying abusive or threatening writing that could cause harassment, alarm, or distress. The 33-year old smirked as he received a four-year ban on attending football matches. He was also fined £1,000, ordered to pay an extra £400 in costs and a £85 surcharge.
Referred to his grandad, ‘dying at 97, and not having enough kids’ lamest excuse ever 🤦♀️
4 year ban and he laughed in court 🤦♀️ what a mockery!!
Man United fan who wore shirt mocking Hillsborough gets four-year ban https://t.co/Z2TYBKIxS9
— ☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦. 𝒟𝑒𝒷 .◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆ (@_DeborahAllison) June 19, 2023
James White, the man who wore an offensive shirt printed with ‘Not Enough 97’ has been banned from football matches for 4 years & ordered to pay £1485.
A judge referred to the message, a reference to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, as ‘vile’.
💻https://t.co/46DmsDE2JO pic.twitter.com/ZCsb1RPZLp
— Matt Graveling (@mattgraveling) June 19, 2023
He’s also been banned ‘indefinitely’ by the club with a United statement reading: “Mockery of Hillsborough and other football tragedies is completely unacceptable and the club will continue to support firm action to eradicate it from the game.”
On the 3rd of June 2023, he was arrested in Wembley Stadium after attending the FA Cup final between Manchester City and United while wearing a white away shirt with the words “not enough” with the number 97.
This quickly got social media users’ attention, sparked widespread condemnation.
A crush caused 97 football fans to die at the Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield, on the 15th of April in 1989. The match was between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
When White was arrested at Wembley, the court heard he told police: “You haven’t even asked me what the T-shirt means. My grandad died aged 97 and didn’t have enough kids.”
The defence told the court that White “deeply regretted” his actions, and that he accepted he had “hurt many people very deeply”.
White has also been convicted of “many” crimes, the latest dating back to 2021. However, none were football-related.
District judge Mark Jabbitt said: “It is hard to imagine a more … offensive reference to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.” The judge added that the shirt White wore carried a “hateful expression” and an “abhorrent message” and added that the impact of his actions are “profound and distressing”.
Kevin Christie, from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) London North, said: “White was wearing an offensive shirt which mocked many people and communities that were affected by the Hillsborough tragedy.
“White showed no sympathy towards those people, nor did he care about the impact of his actions. The CPS will continue to work with the police in cases involving tragedy chanting, and people who behave in this way will be brought to justice and will be banned from matches.”
Douglas Mackay of the CPS added: “The CPS continues to work closely with the football authorities including the Premier League and the Football Association, police, clubs, and charities to look to stamp out all of the appalling and horrendous incidents of tragedy chanting and gesturing.
“We are sending a clear message that we call on so-called fans to stop this vile behaviour of a minority which has a terrible impact on the bereaved and communities. If they do not then they face the risk of being excluded from the game they claim to love.”
In August 2020, he also protested with other members of Britain First against asylum seekers who were being housed in the Coventry Hill Hotel.
White appeared next with Britain First leader Paul Golding, to discuss the protest. Britain First, founded in 2011, describes itself as a “patriotic party” that has previously campaigned against Islamism and abortion.
The name of the organisation was thrusted into the limelight during the trial for the brutal murder Labour MP Jo Cox. In 2016, neo Nazi Thomas Alexander Mair was heard shouting the name of his party before he shot Jo and stabbed her.
Here is a video of James White, the c_nt who wore the “97” shirt at Wembley this afternoon with his fuehrer, Paul Golding, the leader of the Far Right group, Britain First. pic.twitter.com/GRxa1e0SKi
— REDFELLAS 🔴 (@Redfellas_) June 3, 2023
Footage of the Britain First thug James White (blue Stone Island jacket) being arrested at the Coventry Hill Hotel in 2020 after assaulting a security guard.
This is the same James White who yesterday proudly wore the abhorrent football shirt mocking the 97 Hillsborough victims. pic.twitter.com/wccMGNgnPz
— Marsh4LL (@Marsh4LL1) June 4, 2023
Twitter users reacted as court heard what the Man Utd fan told police upon the arrest with a ‘grandad’ excuse for his grim Hillsborough shirt…
@Flynny_97: Force him to do community service in liverpool, see what happens
@markmc83: He got off lightly if you ask me!
@tranmere_fan: Won’t be grinning when anyone from Merseyside gets hold of him
@airhoguk: So the shirt in question was a United top with bespoke official printing on the back. Who ever put the numbers and message on the back also needs to be sacked
@Geordetroiter: #JamesWhite isn’t just a boorish football hooligan. He’s also a known far-right activist. That he laughed in the dock during sentencing demonstrates his contempt for Hillsborough victims including families. The only laughable outcome was the terms of his lenient sentence. #JFT97
@PaulEdw88541851: Embarrassing for the real United fans. Clearly a badly thought out attention seeking exercise
@barry_jenks: Sick, vile and should be held accountable!! God help him if he is ever found in Liverpool
@cockneytaff75: Vermin. There’s rivalry between clubs and then there’s a line that should never be crossed…. the loss of life. Prison sentence and a lifelong ban from any football would have made more sense than a fine he’ll never pay.
@EoghanLynch1: Can’t be right in the head. Doesn’t exactly blend in with the crowd either, easily identifiable. I bet you any money he has to leave England within a year.
@tom7p: Arguably even a slightly soft punishment. At least some community service thrown in
@MarkLoveday75: Leave him on his own with the shirt on in the middle of Toxteth..see what happens then
@AlanFRob42: Sure he won’t be chuckling very soon from now
@rekofootball: What type of man is this. James White shouldn’t just be banned from football, he should be banned and put into jail for life. A vile man who should never be heard of again. And I’m also in deep regards to anyone who has been affected by this. This is a pure example of evil.
@KevinTout: Sit him in the centre of the Kop for 30mins – see if he’s grinning then!
@IWW72: What has to happen in your life to make you like this? Something has gone dreadfully wrong here.
@LfcSince: Mess on that.
@chrisaboyle77: The state of it 🤬
@AB32YNWA: Its fine, he’s a very recognisable fella. Im sure it’ll catch up to him soon.
@v_vshawn: What a horrible human being. Hate is most dangerous when it becomes an uncontroversial banality. Freck you James White! #JFT97 #YNWA
@CraggerRagger: Good. Absolutely no place for cretins like that in football. Wondering why there’s not been any talk of those city fans at the same game mocking Munich though
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