Violent fan banned from matches after cop who warned him to behave saw him throwing a chair in media coverage
Daniel Warlow, 24, slapped with five year banning order after Marseille riots
AN ENGLISH footie yob has been banned from football matches for five years after cops spotted pictures of him lobbing chairs at Euro 2016.
Daniel Warlow, 24, admitted clashing with Russia fans as violence erupted on Saturday’s fixture in Marseille.
The Birmingham City fan was caught by police 'spotter' Pc Colin Barlow at Birmingham Airport as he flew home from France.
Police recognised him on a Sky News photo gallery which showed 19 English Euro 2016 hooligans.
Warlow, who has a history of violence at footie matches, was stopped and questioned by the same cop on June 9 as he travelled out with two friends.
He told police he was flying to Brussels and then on to Marseille, where he would be staying in an apartment.
They let him go as he was list as a 'risk supporter' but hadn't been convicted.
The same officer spotted a pic of him throwing a chair and arrested him when as he returned.
Warlow did not contest the ban applied for by West Midlands Police at Birmingham Magistrates' Court this morning.
Amar Sanghara, prosecuting, said Warlow had planned to return to France for further England matches.
Mr Sanghara said he had no previous convictions for football-related disorder, but had previously been involved in trouble before kick-off at the League Cup match between Aston Villa and Birmingham City last September.
He said Warlow had also been involved in clashes at last season's Championship fixtures against Wolves, Middlesbrough and Brighton and Hove Albion, where there was trouble in Digbeth near Birmingham’s St Andrew's home ground.
Mr Sanghara added that he was also kicked out of an away match against Doncaster for disorderly behaviour.
He said Warlow had also been involved in trouble after a friendly match against Royal Antwerp in 2012 and at away matches against Derby County and Sunderland in 2011.
Asking for the five-year order, Mr Sanghara added: "There are grave concerns that Mr Warlow will involve himself in major disorder in time for the next tournament in 2018."
In mitigation, Shabir Qureshi said: "He has no convictions, reprimands or warnings against him.
"He accepts that, to use the vernacular, he is bang to rights as far as the photograph is concerned.
"He is a man of good character, but while he was in Marseille he accepts he very foolishly picked up a chair.
"We have a gentleman here who has never been before a court before.
"He saw what occurred in Marseille first-hand with the Russian fans and he has absolutely no intention of going anywhere near Russia."
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In granting the order, District Judge Shamim Qureshi said: "I am not going to give you a lecture.
"What has happened is quite disgraceful by anybody's standards, not just English standards.
"I expect you are the first person to be brought before the courts in these matters and you will no doubt be vilified on social media and the internet for it, but there are a number of others who are in the same boat.
"You are not the scapegoat for everybody else, each of them will receive their just desserts.
"You should thank your lucky stars that we don't have the jurisdiction to prosecute you for the chair-throwing incident."
Another Tipton-based Blues fan, Ashley Kelly, 26, was previously jailed for three months for his part in the violence in Marseille on Saturday, the day England played Russia in their Euro 2016 clash.
The construction worker told a French court he had been “goaded” into throwing bottles by Russian fans.
After Tuesday's hearing, Sgt Mick Wilkinson, of West Midlands Police's Football Unit, said: “We have officers working with all professional clubs in the region to tackle football violence – and one of them recognised Warlow during a news clip showing the disorder in Marseille.
“We acted swiftly to apply for an FBO and the court summons was delivered to him personally at his home address on Monday morning.
“Warlow is someone who has been on our radar for some time as being linked to ‘risk’ fan groups and disorder at matches.
“The FBO now bans him from attending games – and from entering a specified exclusion zone at stadiums involving Birmingham City before and after kick-off – and international matches.
“West Midlands Police has officers in France supporting the policing operation; we know the vast majority of fans are behaving themselves and enjoying supporting their country.
"People may be under the impression that if they cause trouble abroad we are powerless to act here – but this case illustrates there will be repercussions and we will take action.
“We are united with clubs across the West Midlands to stamp out football-related trouble and to ensure match-day is an enjoyable, safe environment for everyone.”
Police are using ‘spotters’ to trawl through coverage of terrace violence to identify thugs as they return to England.
Meanwhile UEFA has issued Russia a ‘suspended ban’ after their supporters rioted on Saturday.
They have been given a last chance to clean up their act after a string of 'Ultra' hooliganism.
England has been threatened with expulsion if there is further violence.
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