Two more supporters have been handed football banning orders over tragedy chanting relating to Manchester United vs Liverpool fixtures.
Tommy Jobling of Whitby, North Yorkshire pleaded guilty after distributing offensive messages and videos relating to the Hillsborough disaster through WhatsApp when the teams played in March 2024.
He appeared at Salford Magistrates Court on September 20 and was subsequently issued with a 12-month community order, 20 rehabilitation days and 80 hours of unpaid work. He also received a fine, costs and victim surcharge totalling £319.
Harry Thorley of Crewe, Cheshire was found guilty of tragedy chanting related to the Heysel Stadium disaster outside the away turnstiles at Old Trafford ahead of kick-off in September 2024.
He also appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on September 23 where he pleaded guilty to using threatening abusive, insulting words or behaviour and was subsequently given a fine, costs and victim surcharge totalling £343 in addition to a three-year banning order.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) arrested eight men and charged one individual following the FA Cup quarter-final in March.
Liverpool and United announced later that month that the club’s foundations had launched a joint programme to tackle tragedy chanting in the game.
GMP’s Matthew Ford, the force’s football banning officer said: “Like previous seasons, now with the football schedule in full flow we want to make it clear to any supporters still intent on causing distress through any form of tragedy chanting, we will be taking robust action to highlight that we, along with the clubs and vast majority of fans, it will not be tolerated.
“We would also like to remind people that they can continue to report offences direct to us in person, by speaking to officers deployed at games so we can act there and then.
“We will also continue to liaise with both clubs ahead of fixtures to ensure supporter groups are engaged in our proactive approach to identifying offences around tragedy chanting as we understand the concern, distress, and upset this causes whenever fans unfortunately experience it. It has no place in the game.”
(Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)
