Markus Findlay has successfully overturned a sentence and Football Banning Order (FBO) at an appeal hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
The FBO, which included onerous conditions, was made following his client’s guilty plea to a public order offence arising from a clash between West Bromwich Albion and Millwall supporters at a match at The Hawthorns stadium in 2021.
The court held that the bench at Dudley Magistrates’ Court was wrong to refuse his client’s request for an adjournment for a contested FBO hearing. There were also no reasonable grounds to believe the FBO would prevent future disorder or violence. His client had no previous convictions. His 12-month Community Order was quashed and replaced with a 6-month Conditional Discharge.
Markus was instructed by Melanie Cooke of Football Law Associates.