A Derby County football supporter has admitted disorderly behaviour outside the Riverside Stadium when his team played Boro earlier this month.
John Hoolahan was described by police as the “leading voice” from a group of Derby fans who were being held back by police at the game on December 13.
The 43-year-old appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court today where he admitted a public order offence of using threatening, abusive words or behaviour.
The Crown Prosecution Service applied for a football banning order to be made - which would ban Hoolahan from all football stadiums - but district judge Katrina Harrison refused it as it was Hoolahan’s first football-related offence.
The court heard that Hoolahan was part of a group of Derby fans outside the stadium after Boro’s 2-0 win over Derby and he had been warned by police officers for shouting and swearing.
A police cordon had been put in place to keep him and others back however prosecutor Guy Prest said that he was barging into police officers who were trying to keep the groups of fans apart.
Mr Prest said Hoolahan was shouting “come on then”.
Mr Prest added: “He had already been warned.
"He was described by officers as being the leading voice coming from that group of away supporters.
“It was only the police cordon which stopped him.”
Hoolahan, of Braintree Close, Derby, admitted the offence.
But he said a football banning order would be “a problem” for him as Derby County was a “significant part of his life”.
District Judge Harrison said: “I don’t approve of this behaviour at football matches.
"My view is that you should behave yourself at these occasions and when you come to other cities.”
She fined Hoolahan £350 and ordered him to pay £115.
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