Burnley fan given football banning order for tragedy chanting

A man who engaged in tragedy chanting prior to Burnley Football Club’s fixture with Manchester United has been given a five-year Football Banning Order (FBO).

Billy Rambadt was standing outside a pub in Yorkshire Street, Burnley, at 5.32pm on September 23 when he commited the offence.

As a group of Manchester United fans walked past 27-year-old Rambadt, he shouted ‘Munich’ and raised his arms in an aeroplane gesture – a reference to the 1958 Munich Air Disaster.

The incident was captured on one officer’s Body Worn Video and Rambadt was identified after the footage was reviewed back at the police station.

He was subsequently charged with using threatening / abusive words / behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Rambadt, of Athletic Street, Burnley, was convicted of the offence at Blackburn Magistrates Court on Friday (16th February). As well as being given the FBO, he was fined £500, and told to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £200.

Supt Melita Worswick, from the Lancashire Police Special Operations Team, said: “Rambadt’s conduct on that day was absolutely appalling and something that I know many people will find abhorrent.

“Although Rambadt was not arrested at the scene, justice did catch up with him in the end. To be clear if you are not arrested at the time you commit an offence like this, be sure that we will be reviewing the evidence against you and you should expect a knock at the door.” Hear all the latest news from across Lancashire on the hour, every hour, on 97.4FM, DAB, at rockfm.co.uk, and on the Rock FM app.