An Arsenal supporter and Wales international season ticket holder has been banned from all regulated UK football matches for three years after being caught with cocaine while entering Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
Daniel Martin, a 29-year-old postman from London, was handed a three-year football banning order by South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court following a drug possession conviction.
Police discovered a small bag of cocaine in Martin’s pocket during a search prior to Arsenal’s clash with Sunderland last November.
Magistrates imposed the strict order, which may include surrendering his passport during international fixtures, specifically to “prevent violence.”
Appearing via video link, the long-term season ticket holder unsuccessfully opposed the police application by claiming the incident was an oversight from the previous evening.
Martin told the bench, “It was just an honest mistake. I completely forgot that I had it from the night before.”
Despite his plea and lack of prior convictions, he must now stay away from all professional grounds until 2029.