Judge bans pitch invaders and brands them”moronic”

Two West Ham fans who led the Burnley pitch invasion last season have been branded ‘moronic’ by a judge who banned them from football for three years.

Ronnie Bailey, 20, and Alexander Young, 25, leapt over the London Stadium barriers during the 3-0 defeat and Bailey, a former West Ham mascot, was rugby-tackled by team captain Mark Noble.

Of Bailey’s confrontation with the West Ham captain, he said: “Mr Bailey was pushed to the floor by the player who was clearly unhappy that play was being disrupted in such a moronic fashion.”

“Their actions incited and encouraged others to misbehave”, he said.

Young directed his anger at goalkeeper Joe Hart, rushing towards him before he was intercepted by a steward and then tripped by Burnley striker Ashley Barnes. West Ham fans had been planning a protest march before the Premier League tie, aimed at the club’s owners David Gold and David Sullivan.

The judge said: “They were prominent actors in a sustained period of disruption, abuse and violence that endangered the safety of players, officials and fans.”

Pointing out that “countless” children had been at the game and that the scenes were broadcast to millions, the judge added that he needed to deter others from misbehaving at matches. “If there was no order, I fear what message that would send to those tempted to act in a similar fashion at other matches”, he said.

“They were prominent actors in a sustained period of disruption, abuse and violence that endangered the safety of players, officials and fans.”

Pointing out that “countless” children had been at the game and that the scenes were broadcast to millions, the judge added that he needed to deter others from misbehaving at matches. “If there was no order, I fear what message that would send to those tempted to act in a similar fashion at other matches”, he said.

The judge said Bailey, a labourer, and Young, who is a policy officer for a professional association he refused to name, were “cowed, sober, and alone” in the dock, in contrast to their actions at the game.

Both men have already been given lifetime bans from West Ham home games, and will now be prevented under a court order from attending all football matches around the country until the 2021/22 season.

Bailey, from Islington, and Young, of Gillingham, pleaded guilty to going onto a playing area at a football match. Bailey was fined £330 and ordered to pay £203 in court costs and fees. Young was fined £500 and ordered to pay £220 in court costs and fees.