Police have took to arrest a Man Utd fan for mocking Hillsborough victims while Man City fans chant about the Munich disaster.
A fan was pictured wearing the shirt at the FA Cup final, but social media users were left perplexed at how such a company would allow such a customised message to be placed on the back of United’s away shirt, using 97 as a reference to Hillsborough, and added the words ‘Not Enough’.
An image of the fan wearing the shirt went viral fast on Twitter in disgust. Metropolitan Police soon confirmed: “We are aware of this and have worked proactively with officials at Wembley to identify the individual.
“He has been arrested on suspicion of public order offence and taken into custody.”
#ARREST | We are aware of this and have worked proactively with officials at @wembleystadium to identify the individual.
He has been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and taken into custody. https://t.co/PNVzEhKzgZ
— Metropolitan Police Events (@MetPoliceEvents) June 3, 2023
Let this be a warning to anyone else thinking of doing anything similar. And that goes for using ANY tragedy pic.twitter.com/xwqAGgAAxe
— Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance ( HSA ) (@HillsboroughSu1) June 3, 2023
“A man has been charged after being arrested during the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium,” Met Police said.
“James White, 33 (22.01.90), 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 June 19.”
The FA said in a statement: “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.
“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.”
Hope he is charged by the police doesn’t represent Mufc fanbase I’m very sorry Liverpool fans has see that .and send nothing but love to Hillsborough victims and familys💓💯 pic.twitter.com/iLXloZw50Q
— Col@Rainbow Reds 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈 (@ColinValla) June 3, 2023
The Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance tweeted a statement: “On Saturday 3rd June 2023, the first ever all Manchester cup final took place at Wembley between Manchester City and Manchester United.
“It was the opportunity for Manchester as a city to show itself in its best light but unfortunately this was marred by a so called Manchester United fan wearing an away shirt that mocked the deaths of the 97 unlawfully killed at Hillsborough, the families and the survivors of the tragedy that took place on April 15th 1989.
“On the back of the shirt was the number 97 and above that, where players names are normally displayed, where the words Not Enough. 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 & arrest of the so called Manchester United fan who wore an away shirt with such an abhorrent message targeting family members & survivors of the Hillsborough disaster back in 1989.
“Let’s hope the justice system can be as swift with the appropriate punishment for this act of hatred. We would also like to thank the messages of support that we have received from all genuine Manchester United fans, and from other clubs for their support.”
Unfortunately, this wasn’t the only incident that took place at the match, with Manchester City supporters appeared to mock the Munich air disaster during and after the FA Cup final win.
One viewers spotted a moment from the stands, of a Man City fan holding a plane, while other clips have surfaced of Man City fans chanting ‘Munich’.
@MufcWonItAll wrote: “Manchester City fan spotted celebrating with with a plane at Wembley today. Absolute idiot man especially when he finds out a city player died on the plane in Munich.”
Manchester city fan spotted celebrating with with a plane at Wembley today.
Absolute idiot man especially when he finds out a city player died on the plane in Munich. pic.twitter.com/GOO4RgXyd4
— Paul, Manc Bald and Bred (@MufcWonItAll) June 3, 2023
@HillsboroughSu1 added: “As we said, we’ll call out all tragedy chants/mocking. This idiot with a plane needs finding and banning @ManCityCouncil @gmpolice It needs to stop NOW”
@markwerkself replied to @HillsboroughSu1 @ManCityCouncil and @gmpolice, saying: “We was hijacked on the tube loads city fans trying to get on constant shouting munich at us it was Mayam”
IShowSpeed also was attacked by angry Man City fan while Lindelof was struck by object from a rival supporter. See more on that HERE.
We was hijacked on the tube loads city fans trying to get on constant shouting munich at us it was Mayam pic.twitter.com/ZdpK7i6dFv
— mark 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@markwerkself) June 3, 2023
The Premier League are said to be stepping up its attempts to eradicate chanting on tragedies after seeing a notable increase.
A Premier League working group set up to tackle the problem, also involving clubs, the FA, EFL and Football Supporters’ Association, is understood to have consulted the police and the Crown Prosecution Service in recent weeks to discuss what legislation could be used to pursue convictions against alleged perpetrators.
Sarah Majid, a sports and performance psychology coach, claims there’s various reasons for ‘tragedy chanting’.
“A lot of it is alcohol, when you’re drunk and you’re insensitive you don’t really realise what you’re doing,” she told BBC Newsbeat.
“If people were sober and they were in in a football stadium, I don’t think they would be doing them.
“I want my team to win. I’m going to do anything possible if they’re losing.”
She says some fans who sing the abusive songs will argue “the whole nature of sport is be competitive”.
Along with the Munich air disaster, another common subject of tragedy chanting is the Hillsborough disaster.
Liverpool fan Ste Hoare, a regular at Anfield, said “there’s a real frustration and anger” when he
Here’s what social media users had to say as police arrest a Man Utd fan mocking Hillsborough victims while Man City fans chant about the Munich air disaster…
@SylRog97: What is football coming to, shocking #EnoughIsEnough
@ChrisHamdy23: Disgusting bell ends. All needs to be stopped
@JoeBlue202: Grim . I don’t get what goes through someone’s head to do this kind of thing you know
@preece8: @gmpolice these men need to be found and arrested just like the utd fan who was arrested yesterday. Mocking any disaster is disgusting
@DjCaro: Another pathetic individual. All tragedy chanting and actions have to stop. Now. No place in football. Or anywhere else in society.
@RossWakely: What is it going to take to stop this? Yesterday there’s City fans mocking the Munich disaster and a United fan with a top mocking Hillsborough. Until the punishments are severe enough to deter these idiots, these horrific chants and acts it won’t stop @FootballAssoc
@Ac1984Ross: What is wrong with people!!! Another absolute scum bag!!
@RedCyanPhotos: I’m sorry people had to witness this. I cannot believe a company would do that lettering & number on a football shirt, or any shirt for that matter. I was only very young when it happened, I’m no football fan, but I remember. It hurts to remember what happened to those people.
@lousycrow: This needs calling out too. Not acceptable. Name and shame City fans. Time to end this toxic culture.
@SandraT99733027: When did people loosing lives become about football. Infuriating!
@Smithpeteralb72: Football can divide but it can also unite ❤ 1 so called fan tried to divide. Hundreds of real Manchester United fans called him out in a message of unity ….the way it should be
@Morgan1Utd: He doesn’t know that the Munich disaster affects Man City as well. One of their keepers died in it. But the plastics don’t know that
@KinVoodoo: They didn’t know that one of City players are involved as well. 🫢🫢🫢 #RIPBusbyBabes #MunichDisaster
@SeanMoo85858906: Scum bags!!!
@joannej1970: NEEDS STOPPING NOW
@LeeAust43507705: He needs identifying as well and bringing to account.
@sadietrent_92: oh that was super quick, well done @metpoliceuk for identifying this individual
@yvonneliverbird: There’s no need for all this mocking and hatred. It will only stop if they’re are arrested and dealt with! 😡
@GaryLovLFC: What a pathetic little man!!!
@JohnAylott7: Football really drags up the dregs of society 😡
@robgreen1979: Biggest game for Man U for years in a Manchester Derby and he uses the occasion to pay for a shirt to talk about innocent people who lost their lives 30 miles up the road.
How much of a scumbag do you have to be to pay for a name on your shirt like that?
Why was he allowed entry into Wembley (if that’s where he is)?
It’s their most important game for many years and he’s obsessed with LFC.
So much hatred, all because of a dislike of a football… pic.twitter.com/QzHX4xwIMK
— Nick Collins (@Nick___Collins) June 3, 2023
You must be logged in to post a comment Login