United fan banned for three years after gesturing towards Liverpool fans

A football fan has received a ban for mocking Liverpool fans at Old Trafford

During the FA Cup Quarter-Final fixture between Manchester United and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford on Sunday,  March 17, Michael Bernard Avery 44, from Manchester, was charged with Section 4a of the Public Order Act 1986.

This was in addition to arrests and charges made to other supporters relating to pyrotechnics.

Avery pleaded guilty to the offence at Salford Magistrates Court and received a three-year Football Banning Order (FBO) alongside costs of £85, a victim surcharge of £320 and a fine of £800, reduced due to an early guilty plea.

This was after the police's Specialist Operational football investigation team carried out enquiries following a video of a man in the home section of the Old Trafford crowd making gestures that was shared widely on social media.

Chief Inspector Jamie Collins, of Specialist Operations Branch, said: “Following the understandable concern raised online following the video being shared of Avery’s actions, we undertook an investigation into this to ensure justice was brought.

“We are continuing to take a proactive action against those engaged in this type of behaviour, that is intent on causing distress to victims and supporters impacted by terrible football tragedies of the past. Any kind of gesture or comments in relation to tragedy chanting will not be tolerated and is totally unacceptable.”