By Mali Sapsed Foster
An Arsenal fan was caught in possession of cocaine at a football match, and now has pleaded guilty to the crime.
Craig Meely, 40, appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court and now potentially faces a Category A, Ban C fine and a potential banning order on football application – prohibiting him from entering any football grounds.
On January 15th this year, officers were conducting routine security and walk through searches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on attendees at the Arsenal Vs. Manchester match, when a drug sniffer dog took an immediate liking to Meely.
He was found to have just under a gram of the substance cocaine, which is categorised as a Class A drug, in the left-hand pocket of his jacket.
Meely, who is married with two children, claimed the jacket where the cocaine was found was not worn for a year, and belonged to a friend. He was adamant that he was completely unaware he was in possession of any drugs.
The die-hard Arsenal fan and regular season ticket holder looked visibly saddened as the court heard of his potential football ban, ordered by the Crown.
Football banning orders are on the rise following new provisions set by the Premier League following the World Cup, and as from the 10th November 2022 anyone convicted of possessing or supplying class A drugs at a regulated game will now be made subject to a ban.
UK Football Policing Unit data shows there were 343 banning orders issued between 1st July and the 31stDecember 2022 – an increase of 230% on the same period in 2021-2022.
As Meely informed Magistrates he was unable to attend the original date for his sentencing due to working abroad, he was released on unconditional bail and will have to attend a separate hearing in retrospect of the banning order.
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