Tommy Robinson facing blanket ban on England football matches
11 October 2019, 20:45
The former English Defence League leader is facing a complete ban on attending England football matches after being filmed punching a Three Lions fan in Portugal.
Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, otherwise known as Tommy Robinson, could be hit with a banning order for England national team games at home and abroad.
The 36-year-old was caught on camera knocking a man to the ground prior to England's 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands in the city of Guimaraes, Portugal.
Bedfordshire Police, his local constabulary, and the UK Football Policing Unit are working together to ensure Mr Yaxley-Lennon can no longer attend England matches in the UK or overseas.
A spokeswoman for Bedfordshire Police said: "We can confirm we have served papers on an individual regarding an application for a football banning order."
Mr Yaxley-Lennon was confirmed as the individual in question.
The spokeswoman added that as the case is civil and not criminal, the force would not comment further ahead of the hearing, which is set to take place on 18 October at Luton Crown Court.
Following the incident in Portugal, which was viewed far and wide across social media, the far-right activist claimed he was acting in "self-defence" as the England fan had been "verbally threatening" him.
He said: "It's self-defence because I'm not going to wait for him to beat me up in front of my missus.
"He's come at me twice and I've said to his friends and him 'If you come at me again, I'm going to sort you out.
"'Stay the f*** away from me'."
The incident took place in front of security staff who still allowed him to enter the stadium.
He added: "Any man out with their wife should be free to walk the streets without being threatened or abused because of their politics."
Mr Yaxley-Lennon was released from prison last month after serving two months of a nine-month sentence for contempt of court.
He was jailed in July for live-streaming a video on Facebook which featured defendants in a sexual exploitation trial.
Recording the suspects breached a specific court order and put the case at risk of collapse.
In 2011, he was convicted of leading a street brawl involving 100 football fans and sentenced to a 12-month community rehabilitation order, 150 hours of unpaid work, and a three-year football banning order.
Mr Yaxley-Lennon shouted "EDL 'til I die" and encouraged fellow Luton Town supporters as they clashed in the town with Newport County fans.
