Three men given football banning orders for hate crime offences

Pictured left to right: Matthew Guy, Ben Lloyd and Alan Maher

Three men have been given football banning orders for hate crime offences committed at Liverpool football games.

Matthew Guy, Ben Lloyd and Alan Maher, who are all Liverpool supporters, have appeared in court for their respective offences, and each convicted for their crimes.

Matthew Guy, 49 years, and Ben Lloyd, 28 years, both from Tarporley in Cheshire, pleaded guilty to shouting homophobic abuse at Chelsea supporters and players at the Liverpool vs Chelsea game on 20 October.

Yesterday, Wednesday 18 December, both men were convicted of Homophobic Section 5 Public Order and given a three-year football banning order plus a £100 fine at South Sefton Magistrates Court.

Alan Maher, 55 years, from County Meath in the Republic of Ireland pleaded guilty to shouting racist abuse at Liverpool player while at the Liverpool vs Bournemouth match on 21 September.

Mayer was convicted of Racially Aggravated Section 5 Public Order and issued a three-year football banning order and a £535 fine at South Sefton Magistrates Court on Monday 9 December.

Chief Inspector Iain Wyke said: “This type of behaviour displayed by these latest three men to be convicted for hate crime has no place in football.

“They have each been issued with football banning orders for hateful and offensive chanting at Liverpool games which caused distress to others, and this is wholly unacceptable.

“This ban prevents them now from attending any football game in the country.

“I hope these sentencing sends a clear message and acts as a deterrent to others that we will be put you before the courts to be prosecuted.”