A man has been given a three-year football banning order after going on the pitch during Burnley’s fixture against Middlesbrough.
During the 88th minute of the game at Turf Moor on December 6, Carlton Hargreaves ran onto the pitch from the James Hargreaves Stand.
Hargreaves (27) of Longworth Road, Billington, ran around the pitch between players, before being detained by club staff.
Hargreaves was arrested and while being taken to the police van, he said he had some reservations about running on the pitch but told officers, “You only live once.”
Hargreaves was charged with Section 4 Football Offences Act 1991 – going onto playing area.
He pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before Blackburn magistrates last Thursday. Hargreaves was given a three-year Football Banning Order and fines totalling £112.
PC Byron Worrall of Burnley Police, said: “This behaviour is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated by Lancashire Police or Burnley Football Club. Hargreaves’ behaviour not only disrupted the game, it also put player safety at unnecessary risk.
“Hargreaves might say that you only live once, but he’ll now have to find another way to fill his afternoons for the next three years.”
