A man, arrested at Monday’s Emirates FA Cup tie between Manchester United and Aston Villa, has been jailed and given a Football Banning Order.
Aaron Saunders, 29, from Devon, was sentenced on Wednesday, January 12 at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court to 22 weeks imprisonment. He was also given a six-year banning order which prevents him attending matches.
Saunders was arrested during the game after verbally attacking two members of staff and assaulting two police officers. He was charged and, later, pleaded guilty to two counts of racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm/distress and two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker.
PC Matt Ford, of GMP’s specialist operations, said: “Attending a football game should be an enjoyable experience and people who behave like Saunders did on Monday night take away from that – discouraging law abiding fans from attending, especially young families.
“I hope this swift action reassures football fans and those who work in the industry that Greater Manchester Police and the justice system take this issue seriously and take steps to prevent it.”