Arsenal thugs banned from matches for cup semi-final train attack
TWO Arsenal fans who savagely attacked a man on a train have been banned from attending football matches for three years following an application by British Transport Police (BTP).
Stephen Ansell, 53, and Ashley Munt, 26, became involved in an argument with another passenger as they made their way home from Finsbury Park to Peterborough following Arsenal’s Carling Cup semi-final against Ipswich Town at Emirates Stadium on January 25.
They quickly turned violent and headbutted and punched their victim repeatedly, leaving him with suffering cuts and bruising to his face.
Police were called and BTP officers rushed to Stevenage rail station, where Ansell and Munt were removed from the train and arrested.
The pair pleaded guilty to public order offences and last month at North Hertfordshire Magistrates’ Court they were each hit with a three-year Football Banning Order.
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Police Constable Alvin Soomary, BTP Football Intelligence Officer, said: “This was a violent attack on an innocent man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“The majority of football supporters are well-behaved and support their team in good spirits. However, the behaviour of individuals such as Ansell and Munt only serves to ruin the sport for others and brings the game into disrepute.
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“We will not tolerate football-related disorder and those who think they can behave in this way should know that we will take action and, as in this case, proactively seek football banning orders.”
Under the terms on the ban, Ansell, of Sipkin Close, Eaton Socon, Cambridgeshire, and Munt, of Ackerman Street, Eaton Socon, must not enter any football stadium in the UK or go within a mile and a quarter of any Arsenal or England game.
They are also banned from all trains when either team is playing, and must surrender their passports when Arsenal or England are playing abroad.
