A Newcastle United fan who allegedly made a sickening joke about the Munich air disaster has been charged with a public order offence.

James Edward Jeffrey Blake was charged with using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

The 41-year-old, from North Shields, is accused of making offensive comments in a video that has widely circulated on social media.

Footage of the incident in question was taken outside St James’ Park after Newcastle beat Manchester City 1-0 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.

It was shared on X, previously known as Twitter, with the caption: ‘Mocking the Munich air disaster, disgrace!’

During the video, a fan wearing a Newcastle shirt appears from behind a man who is talking into the camera, clenches his fists and interrupts, shouting: ‘Hello, what about Man United, eh? Air disasters, eh? Air disasters!’

Northumbria Police say they were made aware of the video on Thursday after it was shared online following the game.

Officers then arrested Mr Blake a day later and he will now appear at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Magistrates’ Court on October 18.

Mr Blake was bailed in the meantime with conditions not to enter an exclusion zone around St James’ Park on match days.

The alleged comments are in relation to a plane crash which tragically claimed the lives of eight Manchester United players in February 1958.

After a European Cup game away at Red Star Belgrade, the team – which was nicknamed the ‘Busby Babes’ – stopped over in Germany to refuel the plane.

There had been two failed attempts to take off due to adverse weather conditions and on the third, the plane overran due to slush on the runway and crashed.

Of the 44 people on board, including the United squad, journalists and supporters, 20 died at the scene.

A further three died in hospital, bringing the total death toll to 23 with 21 surviving the horrific accident.

Superintendent Rob Bosson, of Northumbria Police, said: ‘First and foremost, I would like to stress that this type of behaviour has absolutely no place in our communities – and we take reports of this nature very seriously.

‘As soon as we were made aware of the video, an investigation was immediately launched, with officers working hard to identify a suspect who has since been arrested and charged.’

A Newcastle United spokesperson said: ‘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.’

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