The Metropolitan Police have announced that a man has been charged for wearing a shirt that allegedly mocked the victims of the Hillsborough disaster.
The arrest took place before Saturday’s FA Cup final, where the individual was seen wearing a shirt that contained offensive references to those who lost their lives in the tragic event. The Hillsborough disaster, which occurred in 1989, resulted in the deaths of ninety-seven Liverpool fans.
According to the Metropolitan Police’s statement, the man in question, James White (33), was charged with displaying threatening or abusive writing likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress. He was granted bail and is scheduled to appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Monday, June 19.
The Football Association (FA) also released a statement condemning the actions of the individual. They expressed their strong disapproval of the offensive shirt worn during the Emirates FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. Upon seeing a photograph of the shirt circulating on social media, the FA promptly initiated efforts to identify the person responsible. Thanks to the swift action of their security team, the individual was quickly located, and the FA commended the subsequent intervention by the police.
The FA stressed their commitment to combating abuse related to Hillsborough or any football tragedy at Wembley Stadium, promising to collaborate with the authorities to ensure appropriate measures are taken against those involved.
In addition to the arrest related to the offensive shirt, the police confirmed the apprehension of 22 other individuals on various charges throughout the day. These charges included assault, affray, possession of drugs, and engaging in drunk and disorderly behavior. However, as of now, no arrests have been made in connection with an object being thrown onto the pitch, which appeared to strike Manchester United player Victor Lindelof shortly after Bruno Fernandes equalized from the penalty spot.
