Ismail Musa, 33, from Telford, has been handed a three-year football banning order after assaulting and spitting on stewards during a Birmingham City Women's match at St Andrew's. The incident occurred on April 6 during the quarter-final clash against Manchester City, when Musa became verbally abusive and was escorted out of the ground.
Altercation with stewards
Prosecuting solicitor Shajah Javed told Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Friday (17) that stewards had cause to engage with Musa due to his behaviour. He became verbally abusive towards staff and claimed he was being picked on because he was black. The altercation lasted between 10 and 15 minutes before Musa's behaviour escalated, leading staff to escort him out of the stadium.
Once outside, Musa became physically violent, spitting on multiple staff members. He also ripped a radio from a steward's vest and threw it into the car park, causing damage to the roof of a grey Ford Puma.
Guilty plea and sentencing
Musa pleaded guilty at the first opportunity in May to four counts of assault by beating. At the sentencing hearing, he appeared dressed in a white 'ice-cream' t-shirt and navy shorts, expressing disappointment and alleging he was being made an example of. He claimed he was assaulted by staff and that security were 'all over' him before admitting the situation 'got out of hand'.
When Magistrate Michael Ward reminded Musa that he had already pleaded guilty, Musa said he did so to 'get a conclusion' and 'find a solution', not because he necessarily agreed with the version of events. He stated, 'I'm not a Birmingham City fan but something needs to change,' referring to security measures at the ground. He added, 'I offered to leave. I thought, I'll go pub and have a drink. But then they assaulted me and it got out of hand, innit.'
Ban and community order
Musa, who claimed he cannot work due to a pelvis injury, said he had received a lifetime ban from the club. Magistrate Ward, handing down sentence, said: 'I know you think you've been punished enough but we don't agree with that.'
Musa was given a three-year football banning order, preventing him from attending any UK football match during that period. He also received an 18-month community order and must participate in a rehabilitation programme. Ward warned: 'You will be committing an offence if you break the football banning order and you could be sent to prison.'
Compensation and court costs
Musa was ordered to pay each of the four victims £70 in compensation, totalling £280, and was not required to pay court costs. As he left the courtroom, he shouted 'have a good one mate'.
