Liverpool man issued with Football Banning Order following two incidents in May

We can confirm a Liverpool man has been issued with a Football Banning Order following two incidents in May.

It was reported that ahead of the Liverpool v Barcelona game on Wednesday, 1 May, a Liverpool fan put a local man into a fountain in the Placa Reial area of Barcelona. When Liverpool played Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, 12 May, the fan is reported to have pulled down the trousers of a steward near Anfield.

The incidents were subsequently investigated and as result 57-year-old Anthony Mullen of Livingstone Drive North, Aigburth, appeared at South Sefton Magistrates Court in Bootle today, Wednesday 10 July. He was issued with a three-year Football Banning Order, preventing him from attending any regulated football matches during that time.

Superintendent Paul White said: "These were shocking incidents during which two innocent men were targeted and humiliated by Mullen. The vast majority of Liverpool fans travelled to Barcelona and behaved appropriately and respectfully, however the behaviour shown by Mullen is unacceptable and will not be tolerated, whether it be at home or away games.

“We work closely with Liverpool FC and all our football teams and pride ourselves on being an inclusive city that is passionate about football, and would like to remind anyone thinking about engaging in this type of behaviour that we will pursue such incidents and bring offenders to justice. We do not want the mindless acts of a few to adversely affect the enjoyment of other fans and members of the public.

“I would like to thank the members of the public, including Liverpool fans, who helped us to identify Mullen and would also encourage any members of the community with information on such incidents to speak with officers or stewards at the ground, or to call 101. Anyone with information who does not wish to speak with us directly can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."