A Chelsea fan has been banned from football matches for three years after running into Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka during the League Cup quarter-final.
A ‘euphoric’ Jordan Chidley, 25, ran onto the pitch to celebrate after Chelsea scored an equalizer in extra time during the match at Stamford Bridge on December 19, 2023.
He will now miss his team’s final later this month.
Chidley, a petrol fitter, has been attending Chelsea matches since he was four, but his actions have been described as ‘stupid’ rather than ‘malicious’.
One of the stadium stewards tried to grab him, but Chidley evaded their grasp and charged into Dubravka.
The fan who stormed into Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka after Chelsea scored an equalizer in the Carabao Cup quarter-final in December has been banned for three years.
Supporter Jordan Chidley, 25, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday
He was later charged with assaulting the goalkeeper and unlawfully entering the field of play during a football match.
Chidley appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today and pleaded guilty to both offences.
Prosecutor Malachy Pakenham described the Chelsea fan’s actions as ‘over-exuberant celebrations’.
“This crime falls into the lowest damage category,” he added.
Chidley’s lawyer told the court he acted ‘out of euphoria’ and would ‘never do something like that again’.
She said: ‘He has no previous convictions and admitted the charge at the first opportunity.
“The character references we have provided to the court are extremely important, and Judge, I hope you get from them what I did: namely, that this young man will never appear in court again.
‘He got carried away. Chelsea had scored, and this happened out of euphoria.
Dubravka tried to push the invader away after he ran towards the goalkeeper
Chidley, pictured rushing back to the Stamford Bridge stands, pleaded guilty to assaulting the Newcastle goalkeeper and unlawfully entering the field of play during a football match.
‘It wasn’t anything malicious. His intention was not to cause fear or harm.
‘His father is a Chelsea fan and ticket holder for 30 years, and this young man has been going to matches since he was four years old.
‘He is always polite and always behaves decently.’
Chidley’s actions that night were described as ‘stupid’ rather than ‘evil’
She then asked District Judge Neeta Minhas not to impose a ban order.
“I would ask you to consider not imposing the order given the context in which this happened, which was stupidity rather than malice.
‘This will never happen again. He does not need to be punished with a football ban.
“He’s a normal law-abiding citizen who doesn’t go out and cause trouble.”
Chidley, dressed in a suit, listened intently from the dock as his father and partner watched from the public gallery.
Handing down the sentence, District Judge Minhas said: ‘The character references are excellent, and this offense falls within the lowest category, meaning it falls within the financial category.
‘Nothing more serious as there is no damage and no injuries.
‘What makes it serious, however, is the fact that it was on a football pitch, and the stewards manage this by making sure people follow the rules.
‘If one rule is broken, the risk is greater.
“So when I judge you, I want to stop other people from doing this.”
She imposed a fine of £1,215 and decided to go ahead with a ban despite the defense’s protests.
District Judge Minhas said: “I accept that this is unusual when I look at your character references.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino criticized the fan for his reckless behavior after the match
‘But I have to think about the message I convey with my sentence.
“I will therefore issue a three-year football ban from today.”
It was agreed that Chidley could pay the fine in monthly installments as he and his partner had recently bought a house.
Chelsea went on to win the match 4–2 on penalties and after beating Middlesbrough 6–2 in the semi-finals, they reached the final against Liverpool on 25 February.
