News & Legal Advice
Football Banning Order Application successfully opposed
Published - Sep 30, 2025
Foster and Coleman were instructed to contest a Football Banning being sought by the Prosecution following conviction of an offence of throwing a missile at spectators area contrary to sections 2 and 5 of the Football (Offences)Act 1999.
Our client was a 25-year-old man who had already been banned by the club in question (Millwall) since February 2025 pending the outcome of the contested hearing. We submitted that to impose a Football Banning Order, the minimum term of which is 3 years, would be unjust in the circumstances.
After a full hearing, the District Judge decided not to impose the Football Banning Order, as it would have been unjust to do so in all the circumstances. The Court found no causal link between the isolated incident and any potential football related violence or disorder. The defendant was a ‘low risk’ supporter with little police intelligence on him despite attending matches home and away for the past 10 years. To impose a Football Banning Order would be going against the spirit of the legislation and disproportionate to Banning Orders imposed by the Courts for arguably more serious offences. Our client had been appropriately punished by the Court for the throwing of the missile, and this incident was not football related.
Posted in Criminal Defence on Sep 30, 2025