Football fans banned after derby bar brawl
FOOTBALL fans were hauled before a judge after a mass brawl erupted in a bar between United and City fans hours after the derby.
The ugly fracas broke out at Terrace bar in the Northern Quarter, in the early hours after a League Cup semifinal at the Etihad Stadium.
Chairs, stools and glasses were thrown after a row escalated.
Four men appeared in court before a judge, with three of them being banned from attending football matches for three years.
Michael Hughes, 30, Daniel Gillan, 30 and James Whitehead, 35, all received the punishment, with 46-year-old City season ticket holder Carl Loftus avoiding a ban.
Manchester’s top judge, the Honorary Recorder Nicholas Dean QC, said their behaviour gave law abiding football fans a ‘bad name’
The incident unfolded at about 1am, hours after United beat City 1-0 in the second leg of the semi final, a tie the Blues won 3-2 on aggregate.
Problems arose at the bar close to closing time as staff refused to serve further drinks, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Verbal aggression soon escalated into a ‘mass brawl,’ prosecutor Alison Heyworth said.
“Fists, chairs, stools, glasses and other items were thrown or wielded, and used as weapons in some cases to strike others with,” she said. A female bar worker was left fearful and said she was ‘trapped.’
Police were called and witnessed saw the aftermath of the brawl, seeing Loftus throw a chair at someone.
Loftus told police he was a City fan and that United fans had also been involved.
Whitehead said he and others were being attacked by ‘f ****** Collyhurst Reds.’
All four men pleaded guilty to a public order offence.
Whitehead also admitted affray, after an incident prior to a Champions League game between City and Lyon in September 2018.
A shop on Grey Mare Lane was attacked, with others also being involved. The shop window was kicked and two shopping baskets were thrown in an attempt to attack Lyon supporters.
The judge said such crimes can lead to football fans being tarnished as ‘hooligans.’
“It is perfectly possible to understand the rivalries between individual teams, particularly those located close to each to other,” Judge Dean said.
“It is though impossible to understand why people resort to violence in relation to their support of particular football clubs.
“A friendly rivalry is perfectly possible, but does not seem possible for some football supporters.” But the
judge said the mass brawl was ‘very far from the worst football related violence that these courts sadly see.’
Whitehead, of Langham Road, Stockport and Hughes, of Bollington Road, Miles Platting, received suspended sentences and Loftus and Gillan were handed community orders.
Whitehead was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for a year and Hughes received two months suspended for the same period.
Both must carry out unpaid work.
Loftus, of Firden Walk, Harpurhey and Gillan, of Alloway Walk, Newton Heath, both received 12-month community orders, with Loftus being given a three-month curfew, while Gillan was told to complete unpaid work.
Loftus’s barrister argued a banning order for the City season ticket holder was not necessary in his case and the judge agreed.
Whitehead’s lawyer said the defendant has ‘no real desire’ to attend matches any more.