Prosecutors crack down on football tragedy-related abuse
Fans are being warned they face being banned from attending football matches if they commit tragedy-related abuse as prosecutors publish additional guidance this week.
The Crown Prosecution Service has updated its prosecution guidance on football related offences which reconfirms that tragedy-related abuse can be prosecuted as a public order offence. The guidance, which assists prosecutors when making legal decisions on cases, sets out how lawyers can apply for Football Banning Orders which not only stop fans attending matches, but also can impose other restrictions. These include not being able to travel to certain areas, entering pubs at game time and restrictions on travel during tournament times, as well as having to surrender your passport in advance of certain games.
What is “Tragedy-related Abuse?”
Tragedy-related abuse is when fans sing, chant or gesture offensive messages about disasters or accidents involving players or fans. The most common examples are those relating to the Hillsborough Disaster and the Munich Air Crash, but also the Bradford Fire, Leeds fans killed in Istanbul, or the death of Emiliano Sala in a plane crash.
In some instances, footballing tragedies such as Hillsborough or the Munich air disaster (and sometimes tragedies not related to football) may be referenced in a football context, directly or indirectly, in such a way as to amount to abusive or insulting words or behaviour.
Such conduct may amount to an offence under the Public Order Act 1986, notably under section 5 (harassment, alarm or distress) or section 4A (intentional harassment, alarm or distress).
Although a decision whether to charge and, if so, what to charge will depend on the facts of each case, prosecutors have been instructed to bear in mind the following:
· References may be verbal (for example, in chants), in writing (for example, on signs, flags or shirts) or by way of gestures.
· Whether references to tragedies are abusive or insulting will depend on the words used and the circumstances in which they are used. References will often be widely understood and their meaning will not be in dispute, but if the meaning of the reference is disputed by the defence the prosecutor should liaise with a Football Lead for advice.
· Where a reference is abusive or insulting, this can itself be evidence of an intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress, as required for section 4A offences.
· Proof that a person was caused harassment, alarm or distress, as required for a section 4A offence, does not necessarily require evidence from that person; it may be provided, for example, by evidence from a person who witnessed the harassment, alarm or distress, such as a police spotter at a match.
· If it is not possible to obtain evidence that a person was caused harassment, alarm or distress, the section 5 offence requires proof only that a person was likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress.
If you are facing investigation or prosecution for a sport-based incident, you must contact us as soon as possible so that we can properly advise you on your options.
There are no circumstances under which you should agree to be interviewed by police other than in the presence of a solicitor. remember, advice and assistance at the police station following an arrest or a request to attend an interview under caution, is always free of charge.
How can we help?
If you need specialist advice in relation to any criminal investigation or prosecution, from the initial investigation through to court proceedings, please get in touch. Call John Howey on 020 7388 1658 or email jhowey@jfhlaw.co.uk. Let us help.
Image credit: “Canton Stand Chant” by joncandy is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
