Fan Banned for Wearing Offensive Shirt Referencing Hillsborough Tragedy.
A football fan who wore a highly offensive shirt referring to the Hillsborough disaster has been banned from attending football games for four years, as ruled by the Willesden Magistrates’ Court in London on Monday.
James White, 33, admitted to wearing a shirt displaying the number 97 and the words “not enough” during the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on June 3. This reference was to the tragic incident in 1989 when 97 fans lost their lives in a crash during the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium.
District Judge Mark Jabbitt, quoted by British media, expressed his dismay, stating that it is difficult to imagine a more offensive reference to the Hillsborough disaster. He described the message on the shirt as abhorrent and highlighted the profound and distressing impact of such actions.
The image of the shirt circulated widely on social media, prompting numerous individuals to report it to the police via email, according to reports.
The English Football Association (FA) welcomed the court’s decision and condemned the fan’s behavior. The FA stated that the actions displayed by James White at the FA Cup Final were reprehensible, emphasizing that any form of abuse or reference to Hillsborough or any football tragedy will not be tolerated at Wembley Stadium. The FA hopes that this ruling will send a strong message that appropriate measures will be taken against those who engage in such behavior.
Last week, another fan, this time a Tottenham Hotspur supporter, received a three-year ban from games for making gestures that mocked the Hillsborough tragedy during a Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham in April.
