Three men have been banned from attending football matches following their involvement in disorder between fans at a game between Peterborough United and Cambridge United last year.

An operation was launched following the derby at the Weston Homes Stadium in London Road, Peterborough, on October 29 last year, resulting in 47 people being identified and interviewed as part of the disorder.

Dean Foster, 20, Kyle Mortlock, 23, and Thomas Mott, 22, were identified as part of a group trying to goad Cambridge United fans, chanting about Simon Dobbin – a fan who died in 2020 from injuries sustained in an attack at a match between Southend and Cambridge five years earlier.

READ MORE: Football fan Simon Dobbin dies five years after brutal attack left him brain-damaged

They all appeared at Peterborough Magistrates' Court on Friday, March 17, where they admitted using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress – a section 5 public order offence.

Foster, of Cornwallis Drive, Eaton Socon, was fined £461 and must also pay £105 in court costs and a £184 victim surcharge.

Mortlock, of Middletons Road, Yaxley, was fined £406 and must also pay £105 in court costs and a £162 victim surcharge.

Mott, of Farriers Gate, Chatteris, was fined £120 and must also pay £105 in court costs and a £48 victim surcharge.

READ MORE: Further charges made in connection with POSH V CUFC match

All three men have also been made the subject of a three-year Football Banning Order (FBO).

'Wholly unacceptable'

To date, 47 people have been identified and interviewed as part of the investigation, 21 of whom have been charged with either a section 4 or section 5 public order offence and one with criminal damage.

Eleven people have already been sentenced, while eight are due to appear in court in the coming weeks.

READ MORE: WATCH: Football fan causes thousands of pounds of damage to Posh stadium

Inspector Shish Thind, who is leading the investigation, said: "The behaviour from this small group of individuals was wholly unacceptable and incredibly disrespectful.

"While all three have shown remorse for their actions, I hope these sentences serve as a warning that we will not tolerate such behaviour, there is no place for it at our football games."

Chief executive officer of Cambridge United Football Club, Alex Tunbridge, said: "Cambridge United was appalled to hear such unacceptable chants and there can be no justification for such callous acts.

"The chants caused significant distress to the family and friends of Simon Dobbin, as well as the Club and wider fan base.

"Cambridge United will continue to support Nicole and the Dobbin family."

What are the specificities of the Football Banning Order?

All three men were issued a three-year FBO, which outlines specific rules each must follow during football matches.

  • In the United Kingdom, the three men are banned from entering any premises for the purpose of attending a football match, including all football grounds in the top seven leagues.
  • Outside the United Kingdom, they must report to a police station according to instructions that will be notified to the defendant by the Football Banning Orders Authority.
  • The defendants must surrender any travel authorisation document (passport, identity card, or any other form of travel authorisation) in the defendant's name according to instructions notified by the Football Banning Orders Authority.
  • On the day Peterborough United plays at the Weston Homes Stadium in London Road, the three men will not enter or remain in any area inside a specified boundary between four hours prior to the scheduled kick-off time and three hours after the conclusion of the fixture.
  • On the day when Peterborough United are playing in a fixture away from the Weston Homes Stadium in London Road, they will not approach, within a two-mile radius of the stadium where the game is taking place, between six hours prior to the scheduled kick-off time and three hours after the end of the game.