Football fan given banning order after mocking Munich air disaster
Mark Finnigan was witnessed at Old Trafford making a hand gesture which could be interpreted as tragedy chanting.
A football fan has been given a conditional discharge and a three-year banning order after tragedy chanting at a match between Manchester United and Everton.
Mark Finnigan, 24, from Liverpool, was witnessed making a hand gesture which could be interpreted as related to the Munich air disaster, a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.
Eight Manchester United players were among the 23 people killed in the 1958 plane crash.
He appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and was sentenced to a conditional discharge of six months and given a three-year football banning order, police said.
Inspector Gregg Anderton, of GMP’s specialist operational planning unit, said: “Finnigan was witnessed by an officer to turn towards the home crowd and make a hand gesture which he later accepted could be interpreted as being related to the Munich air disaster.
“We are reiterating the message that any kind of gesture or comments from any supporters to other clubs in relation to tragedy chanting will not be tolerated and is completely unacceptable.
“I would also like this to be a strong warning for any supporters attending future fixtures in Greater Manchester that if you engage in this behaviour, GMP officers will do everything possible to bring you in front of the courts.”
Last month, Manchester United and Liverpool joined forces to launch an initiative aimed at eradicating tragedy chanting.
