Man Utd fan who got arrested for wearing vile 'Hillsborough' replica kit claims that it meant something else

A Manchester United fan who was arrested ahead of the FA Cup final against Manchester City for wearing a vile shirt has denied it has any links to the Hillsborough disaster.

At the beginning of the month Erik ten Hag's side had arguably the best chance to stop their rivals from equalling their 1999 team's achievement of winning the Treble.

It was the first ever Manchester derby in a major final, allowing those in charge of the famous old trophy to have the first half of the winners' name engraved on the trophy ahead of kick off for the first time ever.

83,179 fans filled Wembley despite the fact that every single one of them had to rely on transport outside of the trains, after understandable strikes against worker pay.

Whilst most fans were able to enjoy the day and there wasn't too much trouble between the two sets of fans, one supporter got himself arrested.

United fan James White went viral for his white away shirt with the name 'Not Enough' on the back and the number 97, which many saw as a vile reference to the Hillsborough disaster where 97 Liverpool fans lost their life at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final.

He was arrested before getting into Wembley and on Monday he was in Willesden Magistrates' Court in north-west London.

White plead guilty to displaying threatening or abusive writing likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress and was given a four year ban from all football.

However he claimed that the shirt referred to his own family, saying: "You haven't asked what the t-shirt means. My grandad died at age 97 and he didn't have enough kids."

White arrives to court smiling. Image: Alamy

The 33-year-old turned up to court with a smile on his face, only marginally more disgustingly insulting than wearing the shirt in the first place.

As well as being handed the ban from all of football, United as a club have handed him an indefinite ban even when the four years is over.

Speaking to the defendant, District Judge Mark Jabbitt said: "You attended the FA cup final of Manchester United vs Manchester City on 3 June, a high-profile football event.

"And there you were, wearing a Manchester United football shirt with "97 Not Enough" written on the back... it's hard to imagine a more painful or offensive message to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

"I will suggest to you the impact is profound and distressing. Why you would display a carefully printed top when Manchester United was playing Manchester City, it's hard to understand."

There were 22 people arrested around the final for different behaviours, though there has yet to be an arrest linked to 'missile' that was launched by a member of the crowd at Victor Lindelof.