A Bradford City fan has been banned for three years from all football matches after the supporter was caught attempting to smuggle cocaine into Meadow Lane stadium when his side travelled to Notts County in November 2023.
In addition to the ban, the supporter will also have to submit his passport to the authorities during England national team matches that take place abroad.
Bradford City fan handed three-year suspension for cocaine possession
The incident
After approaching the turnstiles at Meadow Lane, the 25-year-old drew the attention of sniffer dogs who were at the scene and was quickly searched, during which four small bags, equating to a reported 1.8 grams of cocaine, were found on his person.
He was therefore charged with possession of the Class A drug, a charge to which the supporter in question pleaded guilty.
The punishment
As alluded to, the predominant punishment for the crime has been decided upon as a three-year suspension from all football matches in the United Kingdom, with the supporter also required to hand over his passport during England international matches.
However, fines were also included as part of the punishment and are broken down as follows: a £425 standard fine, a £170 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.
What did the police say?
John Albanese, a police constable in the Nottinghamshire Police football policing unit, insisted that this punishment is a warning to all football fans in the country. He said: “This result sends out a clear message to fans that drugs will not be tolerated within football. This action was a joint effort by the police and football clubs to maintain safety and security at football events and to deter illegal activities.
“The overwhelming majority of fans behave as they should, but we are aware a small minority will let themselves and their clubs down. As such, we will continue to ensure action is taken and where appropriate FBOs are sought against those who commit offences.
“It’s important football matches are inclusive and safe places for all supporters. We will therefore continue to work closely with our local teams to clamp down on those who seek to bring or use any illegal substances or prohibited items into stadiums.”
A reminder to all fans
There is arguably nothing better than a party-like atmosphere at the footie – especially when the sun is shining and the beers are flowing. However, there is a line that should never be crossed, and that includes both the use of illegal substances, as well as irresponsible consumption of alcohol.
When those two things occur, that is often when the dark side of football – violence, for example, tends to rear its ugly head. Football should always be an enjoyable experience for everyone present, and this ban is a reminder of that.