Portsmouth Fans Banned 3 Years for Derby Steward Disguise

Two Portsmouth fans who disguised themselves as stadium stewards to infiltrate a sold-out south coast derby against rivals Southampton have been banned from attending football matches for three years.

Brothers Kane Green, 29, and Dale Green, 31, both from Portsmouth, arrived at St Mary's Stadium without tickets on September 14 for the Championship fixture, the first league clash between the teams in 13 years. Less than an hour before kickoff, they donned high-visibility vests marked "steward" and carried radio equipment and an earpiece to blend in with staff. The pair managed to enter a restricted area just meters from the pitch but were quickly identified by security personnel for lacking proper accreditation.

Club security and Hampshire Police officers ejected the men from the stadium. The brothers later pleaded guilty at Southampton Magistrates' Court to fraud by false representation and entering the playing area of a football match. Each received a three-year football banning order and a fine of approximately 700 pounds.

Assistant Chief Constable Tony Rowlinson, who oversaw the policing operation for the match, described the incident as a "ridiculous plot" in a statement....