Arsenal fans falsely accused of hooliganism acquitted at trial

Published: 25th March, 2011
by TERRY MESSENGER

ISLINGTON Police are launching an internal investigation into the collapse of a case against six Arsenal fans who were wrongly accused of battling with officers and rival fans.

The case against the fans was thrown out after CCTV footage undermining the allegations emerged. They had been accused of taking part in a hooligan rampage through the streets of Holloway after Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on May 5, 2009.

But Judge David Martineau directed a jury at Blackfriars Crown Court to return not guilty verdicts against the accused.

Chief Inspector Mark Sheeran of Islington Police, said: “We accept that the investigation had a number of failings that led the Crown Prosecution Service to discontinue with this prosecution. 

“A full review of this investigation is being conducted by a senior officer and the identified failings will be addressed.”

The family of one of the accused told the Tribune that he had peacefully taken issue with police blocking his path to a tube station.

He had then been ordered into a pub for his own safety by officers who later returned to arrest him and his friends after dealing with fighting in the streets outside involving other fans.

The wrongly accused fans, who were banned from games for the past two years, are believed to be considering an official complaint against the police.