Fans banned after Roma violence

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Three Manchester United fans have been given football banning orders in the wake of violent clashes before the Champions League match against Roma.

Police were forced to separate rival fans outside Old Trafford before the kick-off of the tie on 10 April.

Nicholas Storker, 34, and Sasan Nikkah, 23, both from Stockport, and Darrell Flood, 45, from Burnley pleaded guilty to public order offences.

All three were given three-year bans by Trafford magistrates on Wednesday.

The banning orders prevent the men from entering any football stadium in England and Wales and from attending certain matches abroad.

Guilty pleas

The court was told that Storker, 34, of Oxford Way, Stockport, tried to incite a crowd to attack the Italian fans.

Mrs Linda Walker, prosecuting, said he was heard to shout: "Let's get the Italian scum." He was arrested as he ran towards the Roma fans.

Storker, representing himself, admitted swearing but said he was merely running to catch up with his friends.

He pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress and was fined £130 and told to pay £65 court costs.

Nikkah also pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour after throwing a can of beer towards Roma fans.

He told the court the incident was "out of character" as a result of a "rush to the head".

Cases adjourned

In addition to the banning order, he was fined £110 and ordered to pay £65 costs.

Flood, 45, of Andalen Close, Hapton, Burnley, threw a plastic bottle back at Italian fans after it had hit him on the shoulder, magistrates heard.

David Lawson, defending, said his client, who admitted using threatening words or behaviour, immediately regretted his actions and knew it was foolish.

He pleaded with the court not to place a banning order on Flood and said he was a man of previous good character who had attended football games for nearly 40 years without incident.

The bench disagreed and imposed a ban, as well as fining him £170 and ordering him to pay £65 costs.

Steve Carver, 46, of Newark Nook, Beckton, London, pleaded not guilty to using threatening words or behaviour. His case was adjourned until 21 May.

Brendan Doherty, 44, of Thruxton Drive, Northampton, was accused of the same offence and did not enter a plea. His case was adjourned until 25 April.