A Manchester United fan - who chuckled in court as he was banned from football games for four years - told police a message on the back of his shirt which mocked Hillsborough victims was made to commemorate his grandfather.
On Monday, James White pleaded guilty to displaying threatening or abusive writing likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress at Willesden Magistrates’ Court. The 33-year-old smiled when he was given a four-year ban from attending football matches, fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £400 and £85 in costs.
He has also been banned 'indefinitely' by Manchester United. A United statement read: "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."
He was arrested at Wembley Stadium on June 3 after attending United’s FA Cup final against Manchester City while wearing a United away strip with the number 97 and the words "not enough" on the back. Photos of his shirt went viral on social media, causing widespread condemnation.
Ninety-seven football fans died as a result of a crush at a match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield on April 15, 1989.
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 regrets” his actions and accepts he “hurt people very deeply”. The prosecution said White had “many” previous convictions, dating most recently to 2021, but none were related to football.
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.”
