Police arrest fan wearing offensive ‘97’ shirt
Slogan interpreted as reference to Liverpool supporters killed in 1989 semi-final tragedy
A football fan was arrested at the FA Cup final in London on Saturday after concerns about the slogan on the back of his shirt.
A photograph of the man with the number 97 on the back of his white shirt, under the words “Not Enough”, was widely shared on Twitter.
The slogan was, according to some Twitter users, a reference to the 97 Liverpool fans who were crushed to death at Hillsborough Stadium during the 1989 FA Cup semi-final.
The Metropolitan Police tweeted that the supporter had been taken into custody on suspicion of a public order offence.
Sharing a tweet by a Liverpool fan account called the Kop Watch, the Met’s events Twitter account said: “We are aware of this and have worked proactively with officials at @wembleystadium to identify the individual.
“He has been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and taken into custody.”
Former Liverpool player Stan Collymore said on Twitter: “Struggling to find why someone would buy a shirt, then get numbers and words printed on it to then display it at a football match. Who’d print it?
“This isn’t partisan fandom, it’s celebrating tragedy that today, now, hurts so many.”
Police also said they were looking at CCTV footage after an object was thrown towards a Manchester United player in the first half of the match.
The Met sent a tweet on the incident, saying it was working with Wembley Stadium officials and reviewing CCTV footage.
Struggling to find why someone would buy a shirt, then get numbers and words printed on it to then display it at a match
STAN COLLYMORE, EX-LIVERPOOL PLAYER