Man City fan who'd drunk six pints is banned over what he said to Liverpool fans
'There has got to be a deterrent to stop this kind of thing happening'
A lifelong Manchester City fan has been banned from all football games for three years for 'tragedy chanting' at Liverpool supporters during a Premiership match at Anfield.
Valve factory worker Stephen Tierney, 47, was detained by security staff after he taunted rival fans with shouts of 'murdering b******s' - said to be a reference to the 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster which claimed 39 lives.
When he was hauled out of the 60,000 strong crowd on December 1 last year Tierney, a City season ticket holder for 30 years who has attended 800 games, immediately apologised and pleaded: ''I have been an idiot. Please do not ban me."
Appearing in court, he said: "I have never been in this situation before. I am shaking like a leaf. Football has been my life since I was a child. It is all I have ever known. I will be devastated if I am banned." It emerged he had drunk six pints in the run up to the incident.
At Sefton magistrates court Tierney, of West Green, Middleton, Manchester, admitted using abusive behaviour and was slapped with a Football Banning Order. He was also conditionally discharged for 12 months and ordered to pay ÂŁ115 in costs.
Angela Conlan, prosecuting, said: "This is an incident that occurred at a Liverpool and Man City game. Stewards are present at about 3.50pm. The witness sees the defendant and describes where he is at the match, hears him shouting 'murdering b******s'.
He read from a pre-prepared statement and apologised (Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
"He shouted towards a set of Liverpool fans. He is immediately escorted to more security staff. Upon being removed from the stadium he is immediately apologetic, saying 'I have been an idiot. Please do not ban me.' There are no previous convictions."
Representing himself, Tierney read from a prepared statement.
He said: "Firstly, I am sincerely sorry for my actions. On the day I had too much alcohol. I know I said something stupid I deeply regret.
"It is clearly out of character for me. I have never been in trouble with the police before in my life. I have been all over the country, all over Europe. I have been to about 800 games. I have had a season ticket for for over 30 years and I have never been in trouble with police, stewards or fans.
"I have had a job since I was 16 and I am scared of losing that as well. I would just be devastated not to go to the games. I have not slept for months. I have just been so stressed.''
But sentencing him, District Judge Wendy Lloyd told him: ''I have to make a football banning order unless there is a really really good reason not to. I did have a gentleman before me who had only six months left to live and I let him go to the game. It seemed that was really exceptional.
Anfield stadium (Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"But normally for people who behave like you did, there has got to be a deterrent to stop this kind of thing happening.''
The judge added: âI fully accept that this has been very very stressful for you and has affected you deeply. But I'm sure you understand as an intelligent man of 47, even without the background of the tragedy, words like 'murdering b******s' shouted loudly at the opposition are clearly offensive and likely to cause alarm or distress.
"I know you said you had drunk six pints and you were under the influence but you chose to drink six pints. As a grown up man you know what that can do.
"I know football means a lot to you and I understand you are really upset about but this type of behaviour can spark off widespread disorder in the crowds - that is why the law has to be firm. I have reasonable grounds to believe that a football banning order in relation to you would help to prevent violence and disorder in relation to football matches.
"It is not just about you. It is to let others know that they have to absolutely toe the line."
Liverpool won the game 2-0.
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