A football fan alleged to have made offensive comments about the Munich air disaster at a Newcastle United match last month has denied a public order offence.

James Blake, 41, of North Shields, North Tyneside, was arrested after a video circulated online following Newcastle United’s 1-0 win over Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on September 27.

He was due to appear at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court charged with using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

But District Judge Paul Currer, sitting in Newcastle, was told that Blake had attended North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, where he denied the offence.

He was bailed to appear for trial at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on January 4.

Reccomended:

Judge Currer told reporters covering the case there was nothing “sinister” in the mix-up between courts.

Eight Manchester United players were among the 23 people who died in the Munich plane crash in February 1958.

Among the survivors was Ashington-born World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton, who died this week aged 86.