A 41-year-old man has been charged with a public order offence after a video surfaced online, allegedly depicting him making offensive comments related to the Munich Air Disaster. The incident occurred following Newcastle United’s match against Manchester City at St James’ Park.
On Thursday, law enforcement was alerted to the video circulating on social media, prompting an immediate investigation. The video reportedly showed the man making offensive remarks linked to the tragic Munich Air Disaster. Subsequent inquiries were conducted to identify and locate the individuals involved.
Yesterday, the 41-year-old suspect was arrested in connection with the incident and has since been charged with a public order offence. He is scheduled to appear before the courts at a later date and has been bailed with conditions prohibiting entry to an exclusion zone around St James’ Park on match days.
Northumbria Police emphasised the gravity of such behavior, stating that it has no place in communities and that reports of this nature are treated seriously. The swift action taken involved launching an investigation immediately upon awareness of the video, resulting in the identification and arrest of the suspect.
Acknowledging the support received from the public and partners, authorities urged against speculation in the community or on social media, as it could potentially jeopardise ongoing criminal proceedings.
A spokesperson for Newcastle United commented on the matter, expressing the club’s commitment to eradicating unacceptable behavior related to tragedies. The spokesperson stated, “Tragedy-related chanting and gesturing is completely unacceptable, and Newcastle United is committed to working with authorities and the wider football community to eradicate it.”
Ongoing inquiries are being conducted, and individuals with additional information are encouraged to report it to the police using the ‘Tell Us Something’ page on the Northumbria Police website or by calling 101.
