Two Portsmouth supporters have been banned from attending matches for three years after disguising themselves as stewards to get into St Mary’s Stadium for September’s sold-out south coast derby.
Hampshire Police said brothers Kane Green, 29, and Dale Green, 31, wore high-vis vests and carried radio equipment to enable them to enter the stadium without tickets for the Championship fixture between Southampton and Portsmouth on September 14, in what was described as “a ridiculous plot” by authorities.
The pair gained access to a restricted area metres from the St Mary’s pitch less than an hour before the English second-tier fixture kicked off, but were removed by club security and police officers, who noticed the pair were not wearing accreditation.
Both men pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and each received a three-year football banning order and £700 ($918) fine.
The court heard how Kane Green informed officers he had attended St Mary’s with the intention of purchasing a ticket for the game, but had brought a high-vis vest, radio and earpiece with him in case he could not buy one.
Assistant Chief Constable Tony Rowlinson said: “This was a ridiculous plot to try and see the game, despite knowing tickets were sold out and those without tickets would not be getting in.
“They clearly came with the intention to get into the stadium illegally, bringing high-vis vests with ‘steward’ on the back, with one even carrying a radio and earpiece.
“Their actions have seen them face very serious consequences in court today and for two people who were so desperate to see this one game, they will now not be able to go to any for three years.”
Kane Green “denied being near the pitch and said he only wanted to get in to watch the game and didn’t intend to do anything else”. Dale Green made no comment during his interview.
September’s game was particularly highly-anticipated for supporters as it marked the first meeting between rivals Southampton and Portsmouth since the Carabao Cup third-round tie at Fratton Park in September 2019. It was their first league meeting, and the first south coast derby at St Mary’s, in over 13 years, having last played each other in the Championship at Southampton’s 32,000 capacity home ground in April 2012.
Southampton have since spent 13 of the last 14 seasons in the Premier League before their relegation last term, while Portsmouth returned to the Championship in 2024 following 12 seasons in League One and League Two.
September’s fixture at St Mary’s finished in a 0-0 draw.