Three football fans banned as police issue warning ahead of international fixtures

A month after ugly scenes overshadowed the Channel Islands’ biggest football match, authorities have identified three suspects from Guernsey, issued football bans and warned that criminal charges could still follow.

With England beginning their World Cup campaign tonight, Jersey Police also issued a fresh warning to fans, urging supporters to behave responsibly and avoid the kind of disorder seen at the Muratti final.

The police action comes after a joint investigation by Jersey and Guernsey’s police forces and football authorities into the disorder that erupted after the Green Lions’ 2-1 victory at Springfield in May.

What happened?

What should have been a celebration of one of the Channel Islands’ oldest sporting rivalries descended into disorder after the final whistle last month.

A small number of supporters entered the pitch and confronted rival fans following Guernsey’s victory.

Videos circulated widely online showing flares being ignited, punches thrown, rival groups facing off and a wheelie bin being hurled.

One steward suffered a gashed leg while dealing with the disturbance and Springfield’s all-weather pitch was damaged by a flare.

While almost 1,500 people attended the match, football authorities were quick to stress that the vast majority of supporters behaved responsibly.

It came 10 years after disorder erupted at the 2016 Centenary Muratti match at Springfield – when up to 30 supporters were kicked out of the stadium, and one man was arrested for refusing to obey the police.

Who investigated the incident?

In the weeks following the match, States of Jersey Police launched an investigation using CCTV footage, drone footage and material supplied by members of the public.

Guernsey Police, the Jersey FA and Guernsey FA also became involved in the enquiry.

The investigation focused on identifying those responsible for the most serious incidents.

In a statement released this morning, the authorities confirmed that three individuals had now been identified in connection with offences including fighting and throwing flares.

All three were described as “assisting police with their ongoing enquiries”.

Police have not released names, ages or stated publicly which Island the individuals are from or who they were supporting.

What will happen to the trio?

All three have now been issued with banning notices preventing them from attending Football Association matches in Jersey and Guernsey.

The bans – which were all given to people from Guernsey – apply to representative fixtures in both islands.

Jersey FA chief executive Tim Pryor said the move sent “a clear and strong message that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated at local football matches”.

“The huge majority of the 1,500 people in attendance at the Men’s Muratti Vase final behaved well, enjoyed the occasion and supported their team in the right way,” he said.

“A small minority crossed the line, and they will not be welcome back.”

Guernsey FA chief executive Gary Roberts described the behaviour as “disgraceful”.

“The behaviour witnessed that day has no place at these matches,” he said.

“This announcement makes it abundantly clear that behaviour of this nature will not be tolerated and has defined consequences. Those identified as being involved in the incidents at the Muratti Final will not be able to attend future Guernsey FA Representative matches at Victoria Park, which is a strong message we hope will be appreciated by genuine football spectators and the wider community.”

Could there be more action?

It hasn’t been ruled out.

A joint statement from both islands’ footballing and police authorities confirmed that enquiries remain “ongoing” and that “criminal proceedings may also follow”.

Acting Chief Inspector Aiden Quenault said the disorder was “entirely unacceptable”.

“Football is a sport that brings people together and the recent Muratti Final was an enjoyable family event for the majority of those in attendance. The disorder that was seen as the game ended… won’t be tolerated on or off the pitch,” he continued.

“The pan-Island investigation between the States of Jersey Police, Guernsey Police, The Jersey FA and the Guernsey FA represents the seriousness with which the involved agencies take this matter and the collaborative action and banning orders reinforce that message.”

Guernsey Police Chief Inspector Adam Parry-Jones said the response showed the islands would work together to protect the integrity of sport.

“The Muratti Vase is one of the most celebrated fixtures in the Channel Islands football calendar, and the vast majority of supporters from both islands were a credit to the occasion. However, the disorder witnessed cannot and will not go unaddressed,” he said.

He later added: “The banning orders now in place send a message that extends beyond either island individually, that the Channel Islands policing community operates as one when it comes to protecting public safety and the integrity of sport.”

Chief Inspector Parry-Jones also praised the collaborative work between the islands.

“The response to these incidents has seen seamless cross-island working between Guernsey Police and the States of Jersey Police, and despite the events occurring in Jersey, Guernsey Police were involved from the outset, supporting the investigation and ensuring that those from our island who crossed the line faced the same consequences as anyone else,” he said.

“That kind of joint working is exactly what the public should expect from their police services, and I am proud of how both forces rose to that.”