Two football fans receive Football Banning Orders

Two football fans have received Football Banning Orders following incidents at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Darryl Curtis, 40, from Treorchy, and Keiron Walsh, 21, from Newport, were both charged with going onto the playing area, without lawful authority or lawful excuse, contrary to the Football (Offences) Act 1991.

Both men went onto the pitch at separate times during the Cardiff City FC v Brighton and Hove Albion Carabao Cup game on Tuesday, August 24, 2021.

Their actions held up the play as the referee was forced to delay the game.

Walsh appeared before Cardiff Magistrates Court on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, and Curtis appeared at the same court on December 20, 2021.

Both men entered guilty pleas.  Walsh was fined £160 with £85 costs, and Curtis was fined £120 with £85 costs.  They also received Football Banning Orders preventing them from attending any Regulated football match in the United Kingdom for the next three years.

A third person to enter the pitch was a 15-year-old boy who was dealt with by way of diversion, intervention with parents and a club-ban.

PC Christian Evans, from South Wales Police, said:

“The overwhelming majority of Cardiff football fans are well-behaved and passionate about their team

“But whenever there is evidence of football-related disorder or violence we always pursue those responsible in order that appropriate action is taken.

“I hope this court result sends out a clear message that similar behaviour will not be tolerated at the Cardiff City Stadium.”

As part of the Banning Order, Walsh and Curtis will also be required to surrender their passports to the police on occasions when the Wales National Football Team are playing fixtures abroad.

Cardiff City Operations Manager, Wayne Nash provided the court with an impact statement outlining implications regarding such behaviour.

He said:

“We as a club have a duty to provide a safe, secure and welcoming environment for all persons attending and working events and as such the playing surface needs to be a place of sanctuary for the players where they can go about their work without fear.

“If we cannot provide this secure environment, then their safety is compromised because at any moment we could have somebody enter the field of play or an area that they are not entitled to occupy and assault a player or member of staff.

“A Football Association fine of thousands of pounds is a possibility despite the excellent record of safety provision at the Cardiff City Stadium.

“This type of behaviour is difficult to manage by Club Stewards, to whom the named showed no respect.”