Man who racially abused staff at Manchester United match jailed and given Football Banning Order

Aaron Saunders (03/10/92) of Higher Furlong Road, Devon was sentenced yesterday (Wednesday 12 January 2022) at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court to 22 weeks imprisonment. He was also given a six year Football Banning Order.

Saunders was arrested during the Manchester United versus Aston Villa FA Cup game on Monday 10 January 2022, after verbally attacking two members of staff and physically attacking two police officers.

He was charged and, later, pleaded guilty to two counts of racially/ religiously aggravated intentional harassment/ alarm/ distress and two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker.

PC Matt Ford, of GMP's Specialist Operations, said: "Attending a football game should be an enjoyable experience and people who behave like Saunders did on Monday night take away from that - discouraging law abiding fans from attending, especially young families.

"I hope this swift action reassures football fans and those who work in the industry that Greater Manchester Police and the justice system take this issue seriously and take steps to prevent it."