James White, who Mocked Hillsborough, receives 24‑year jail term

James White, a 36‑year‑old, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison after being found guilty of rape, sexual assault and violent abuse, following his earlier four‑year stadium ban for Mocked the Hillsborough disaster. The sentencing comes after a series of violent offences that shocked the football community.

White Mocked the Hillsborough disaster by wearing a Manchester United shirt bearing the number 97 and the slogan ‘Not Enough’ at the Red Devils’ FA Cup final against Manchester City in 2023, a direct reference to the 97 Liverpool supporters who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster at Sheffield Wednesday’s stadium.

Police arrested White in Warwickshire after a victim reported that he had attacked her with a knife, leaving bruises on her face and injuries to her back and torso. He pleaded not guilty to assault, sexual assault, rape and domestic abuse, but Warwick Crown Court found him guilty of all charges in June, imposing a 24‑year term, a £1,000 fine and £485 costs.

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Club and police reaction

Manchester United issued an indefinite ban after images of White’s shirt surfaced online, stating that mockery of Hillsborough and other football tragedies is completely unacceptable. Detective Constable Baylie Cairns described White’s conduct as a ‘campaign of horrific abuse, violence and sexual assaults’, adding that the sentence prevents him from posing a risk to the victim and others.

Journalist profile

Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith By Alfie Cairns Culshaw PM GMT+1. Alfie Cairns Culshaw is a football journalist covering the Premier League for GIVEMESPORT. He joined the company in May 2024, is an avid Arsenal fan and season‑ticket holder, and previously worked for SportBible covering Liverpool and Manchester United. He creates YouTube content, runs a weekly podcast, and maintains an Arsenal blog with over 59,000 Instagram followers. His work also appears on CheekySport and The Football Faithful, and he contributes to GiveMeSport. Add Us Here to follow his analysis; he will Give weekly insights in Sport reporting. He is a Man known for data‑led analysis in football.