TOPMAN has pulled a T-shirt from sale after it was accused of mocking victims of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster with its design.

The red shirt had the word “Karma” down one sleeve and a large “96” on the back, along with a rose and the phrase “what goes around comes back around.”

Ninety-six Liverpool fans died in the Hillsborough disaster in the human crush at the start of an FA Cup semi-final.

A spokeswoman for the retailer said Topman “apologises unreservedly for any offence caused by this T-shirt.”

She said the design had used a Bob Marley track which was rereleased in 1996 for inspiration, but the £20 shirt quickly came to the attention of Liverpool fans on social media when it went on sale online.

Louise Brookes, whose 26-year-old brother died at the stadium, said the words were used by some rival fans who claimed Hillsborough was “God’s punishment” for the Heysel stadium disaster in which 39 people, mostly Juventus supporters, died at a match in Brussels against Liverpool.

Ms Brookes also said the red colour, the number 96 and the rose were all symbols associated with Hillsborough.

Earlier, a Liverpool fan said on Twitter: “So it’s a #BobMarley song and it’s managed to get through god knows how many people before it’s printed.

“Just shows you how few people know about the biggest sporting disaster and cover-up this country’s ever seen.”

Another user tweeted: “I don’t think it’s the @Topman design that’s the issue, Hillsborough wouldn’t have been in their thinking, it’s the brain-dead people who will end up wearing it for the wrong reasons, and there will be people like that.”

Wirral South Labour MP Alison McGovern tweeted the shirt was very “unfortunate” and was among those calling for it to be discontinued.