Man City fan fired and banned from matches after throwing a PIE

A Manchester City fan has lost his job as a chef and been banned from football matches for three years after he threw a pie into the crowd during a game. 

Aaron Johnson, 30, said he had been struck by the pastry and hurled it back in a 'moment of madness' during the Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon on March 9.

Tensions were high between fans on both sides with missiles being thrown, injuring two City fans, with some 47 people ejected from the game and 100 supporters refused entry into the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

When the final whistle blew, a man, later identified as Johnson, was seen by officers launching a number of items at Sporting fans, which included a cup containing liquid and a pie, Manchester Magistrates' Court heard.

Johnson, a lifelong City fan from Stockport, pleaded guilty to throwing a missile at a spectators' area. He was handed a £40 fine and banned from going to any football matches in the UK and abroad for three years.

It is unknown if anyone was injured by the flying pastry. 

Johnson has since lost his job as a chef due to his actions.

Eileen Rogers, prosecuting, told the court that after allowing supporters back into stadiums following the coronavirus pandemic at the end of 2021, there had been a 'dramatic increase' in violent disorder and anti-social behaviour during games. 

She said the topic had been documented and widely discussed between various Parliament members and in the media.

On March 9, kick off had taken place at 8pm, and police had categorised the game as a 'medium risk' to public safety and public order due to various supporters being there. 

Ms Rogers said over 51,000 supporters were in attendance, 13,000 of which were Sporting supporters.

'Items were thrown by both