Man City fan loses job after launching pie into crowd at Champions League game
A Manchester City fan lost his job as a chef after he was arrested for launching a pie into the crowd at their Champions League match against Sporting.
Aaron Johnson, 30, from Stockport has also been handed a three-year ban from attending football matches in the UK and abroad for the next three years. He had been seen by police throwing several items at full-time and was cautioned by officers for his actions.
He replied “I have thrown a pie and a drink” before being handcuffed and arrested by officers after the match at the Etihad Stadium on March 9.
Johnson had claimed that he had been hit by the pie first before launching it back in a "moment of madness". There had been a hostile atmosphere at the match, which ended 0-0, with objects thrown by both sets of supporters.
Two City fans were injured, whilst 47 supporters were ejected from the ground, 100 were denied entry and several other arrests were made.
It is unknown whether Johnson, who has since lost his job as a chef, injured anyone with the pastry he threw. He pleaded guilty to throwing both the pie and cup filled with liquid at Manchester Magistrates' Court.
Eileen Rogers, prosecuting, explained, via the Manchester Evening News: “Items were thrown by both sides, City and the opposing side, in the lower section of the stadium, and were observed to be abusive towards each other and the police had told them to stop.
“Several items, including coins, were thrown towards the lower divide, officers had to stand between them and were advised to wear helmets to protect themselves.
“The North West Ambulance Service treated two City supporters who had been hit by missiles. Tensions were high and the police were vigilant.”
She also explained the match had been attended by a total of 51,000 supporters, with 13,000 of them supporting the visitors from Portugal.
Johnson's defence lawyer Nnamdi Inegbu stated: “This was a one off, it was a moment of madness. He will say the pie he threw was an object that had landed on him. It landed on his face and clothes and he hauled it back.
“He deeply regrets his actions and recognises he let himself down, let his friend down and let Manchester City down. He can’t believe he put himself in this position and is disgusted with his actions.”
“He understands why the police have a zero tolerance approach to this behaviour and he wishes, through me, to apologise to Manchester City, the players, the supporters, his friends and family.”
In addition to his three-year stadium ban, Johnson was also handed a £40 fine as well as being charged a £34 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.
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