Football-related violence has been an ongoing concern.
Image credit: TheCrimesSceneA former Metropolitan Police detective, Gordon Irikefe, has been banned from attending football matches in the UK for three years after being found guilty of hooliganism at Arsenal games.
Irikefe, a dedicated Arsenal supporter, was caught engaging in repeated disorderly behavior at matches between October 2022 and April 2024. This is per a report from BBC.
His actions included chanting about a fatal helicopter crash, using pyrotechnics, and intimidating other fans.
Football Violence and Misconduct
Westminster Magistrates’ Court issued the banning order following a police disciplinary hearing, which found that Irikefe had grossly breached the Met’s professional conduct standards.
#lcfc #leicestercity A shocking incident involving Met detective and Arsenal fan Det Con Gordon Irikefe unfolds as he receives a banning order for throwing a flare into a crowd and chanting about a tragedy. Explore the full story on how this affects the… https://t.co/Hx4fSIJIfJ. pic.twitter.com/6QmNHGgZYq
— #premierleague #championsleague #EFL #championship (@PossoLtd) February 24, 2025
Despite being an officer, he repeatedly drew police attention for disruptive and anti-social behavior at matches.
One of the most disturbing incidents occurred in February 2023 when Irikefe was heard shouting “helicopter” at an away game against Leicester City.
This was a reference to the tragic helicopter crash that killed Leicester City’s owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, and four others outside the King Power Stadium in October 2018.
In another instance, while attending a Champions League match in Munich on April 17, 2024, he lit and threw a flare into a crowd.
German authorities arrested him that same day, fining him €100 (£83) for wearing a full balaclava and sunglasses inside Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena.
Banned from Stadiums
Under the terms of his banning order, Irikefe is prohibited from:
- Attending any football matches in the UK for the next three years.
- Going within a mile of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
- Approaching within two miles of any stadium where the England national team is playing, for four hours before and after any match.
Dismissed from the Police Force
Irikefe resigned from the Met Police on February 12, just before he was formally dismissed without notice.
