Whatever you do lads, don’t flap your arms like a chicken
One Northern Ireland fan has felt the full force of justice after being fined and banned for the heinous crime of performing The Birdie Song during a friendly win over Latvia back in November.
Appearing at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, fan James Burns admitted unlawfully going on to an area where football spectators are not allowed.
The court heard that Burns approached the touchline during the match and performed the song. Unfortunately for him, the incident – and we use that word incredibly tenuously – was captured on CCTV, hence the charges brought against him.
Despite accepting the charge, Burns was actually forced to contend prosecutors’ attempts to impose a five-year football banning order on him.
The sentence was eventually reduced, with the supporter fined £750 and bound over to stay away from home international matches at Windsor Park for one year instead.
This from BBC Northern Ireland:
His defence barrister argued that his actions did not meet the legislative test for such a sentence and claimed Burns’ behaviour did not amount to disorder.
The judge said the defendant’s actions could amount to a form of interference, but he refused to impose a banning order, ruling that it was not necessary for preventing future violence or disorder.
Madness gone mad.