Tottenham fan receives three-year ban for mocking Hillsborough disaster

Kieron Darlow, 25, from Welwyn, made gestures towards Liverpool fans at Spurs' Anfield match on April 30 "that was a reference to the Hillsborough disaster".

Andrew Page, of CPS Mersey Cheshire, said: "Darlow admitted making a gesture towards the Liverpool fans and that this was a reference to the Hillsborough disaster.

"He admitted that this was to suggest that fans without tickets had pushed forward in the tragedy and had been partly to blame for the crush that led to so many deaths.

"He accepted at court that it was his intention that Liverpool fans should see this and that it would cause them harassment, alarm and distress. He admitted that his behaviour was unacceptable and regrets his actions.

"Darlow knew what he was doing and it was done knowing what an impact the Hillsborough tragedy had on Liverpool fans and the city of Liverpool but he did it anyway. This sort of behaviour is not only morally unacceptable, it is criminal.

"We hope this prosecution sends a message out to all football fans that their behaviour at football games is important and that, if it crosses into criminality, they will be met with the full force of the law."

A Tottenham statement read: “The Club can confirm that one of its supporters has been banned from attending matches for three years after being found guilty of mocking the Hillsborough disaster during our trip to Liverpool in April.

“We are appalled by this behaviour and have cooperated fully with the Police to identify the individual, who will also be handed an immediate stadium ban.”

Ninety-seven Liverpool fans died as a result of a crush at Hillsborough in 1989. An inquest jury ruled in 2016 that they were unlawfully killed amid a number of police errors.

Additional reporting by Press Association.