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Jailed for banned football fan

11/ 7/2008

A FOOTBALL fan who used his brother's passport to travel to Moscow for the Champions League final has been jailed.

Manchester United supporter Jay Barnes, 29, had been banned from attending matches until July 2010 after being drunk at a United game against Aston Villa last year.

He also had to surrender his passport to police to stop him attending games abroad.

But Greater Manchester Police officers - sent to Russia to spot known troublemakers - recognised Barnes as he mingled with other fans at the Luzhniki Stadium before the showdown with Chelsea on 21 May. He was arrested shortly before kick-off.

After spending the entire match in a police cell he was deported. Greater Manchester officers were waiting for him to land back at Manchester airport and he was re-arrested.

Barnes, of Woodward Street, Ancoats, was jailed for a total of six months at Manchester Crown Court for possessing false ID with intent to deceive and breaching his football banning order.

Chief Superintendent Janette McCormick said the orders were in place "for a reason."

She said: ""Any breach of the order's conditions are treated very seriously, and Barnes' conviction should act as a warning to anyone who tries to deceive the authorities.

"We will continue to run operations like this because we are determined to stop known troublemakers from spoiling the enjoyment of matches for genuine fans.

"The message is clear - you will be caught and you will be punished."