A Tottenham fan has been hit with a three-year ban from attending football games after being found guilty of mocking the Hillsborough disaster.
Kieron Darlow, 25, received his ban after admitting to mocking the disaster during Liverpool's 4-3 win over Tottenham in the Premier League on April 30, the Crown Prosecution Service said. 97 Liverpool fans tragically died at Hillsborough in 1989 during an FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest when there was a crush.
An inquest in 2016 ruled that the victims were unlawfully killed as a result of failures by police and the ambulance service. "Darlow admitted making a gesture towards the Liverpool fans and that this was a reference to the Hillsborough disaster," Andrew Page, of CPS Mersey Cheshire, said.
"He admitted that this was to suggest that fans without tickets had pushed forward in the tragedy and had been partly to blame for the crush that led to so many deaths. He accepted at court that it was his intention that Liverpool fans should see this and that it would cause them harassment, alarm and distress.
"He admitted that his behaviour was unacceptable and regrets his actions. Darlow knew what he was doing and it was done knowing what an impact the Hillsborough tragedy had on Liverpool fans and the city of Liverpool but he did it anyway. This sort of behaviour is not only morally unacceptable, it is criminal.
"We hope this prosecution sends a message out to all football fans that their behaviour at football games is important and that, if it crosses into criminality, they will be met with the full force of the law." Assistant Chief Constable Paul White added: "This type of behaviour has no place in football.
"We will take action and identify those who commit hate crime in any form, and this includes unacceptable chanting which causes distress to others. Merseyside Police will work to identify and bring to justice anyone found responsible for committing a hate crime. I hope this sends a clear message and acts as a deterrent to others that we will be put you before the courts to be prosecuted."
