Man Utd ban man who wore ’97 not enough’ shirt to mock Hillsborough disaster

Manchester United have announced that they have banned the fan who wore a t-shirt that mocked the Hillsborough disaster at the FA Cup final. James White was arrested at Wembley for a shirt that read ‘97 Not Enough’ and has now been charged.

White, of Warwickshire, pleaded guilty at Willesden Magistrates’ Court in north west London to displaying threatening or abusive writing likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. The 33-year-old has been banned from all regulated football games for four years as a result, whilst also being fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £400 and £85 in fees.

United have also issued their own statement, announcing that White has been ‘indefinitely banned’. They wrote: “Manchester United today issued an indefinite club ban to James White who pleaded guilty to charges at Willesden Magistrates Court.

“White, who wore a shirt displaying a despicable slogan mocking the victims of the Hillsborough tragedy at the FA Cup Final, was handed a four-year ban from all football matches and a £1,000 fine by the court.

“The club’s ban goes further with the immediately imposed three-year suspension being extended to an indefinite ban from all club activities including all matches at Old Trafford. 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.”

When White was arrested, the court heard that he told the police: “You haven’t asked what the t-shirt means. My grandad died at age 97 and he didn’t have enough kids.” Though he soon spoke of how he ‘deeply regretted’ his actions and how he has ‘hurt people very deeply’.

White smirked and laughed in court as he was sentenced by judge Mark Jabbitt, who said: “It is hard to imagine a more … offensive reference to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.”

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.”

The Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance has also revealed that they have received plenty of messages of support from the public since White’s actions on June 3.