A football fan says his team Lincoln City has banned him from attending matches for the rest of the season.
The 35-year-old season ticket holder attended the Imps' 2-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday, October 5 wearing a Newcastle United shirt.
Later on during the match, another fan took the shirt and ran down towards the Stacey West stand waving the shirt in front of the Sunderland supporters, Lincolnshire Live report.
Newcastle are Sunderland’s bitter rivals and Simon ‘Sid’ Chanter has since received a letter from stadium manager and safeguarding lead, Alan Welsh, saying he is no longer able to purchase tickets for home and away fixtures due to his “actions” during the match.
Mr Chanter accepts wearing the shirt was not the smartest thing to do but insists it was meant as a bit of harmless fun with his friends.
“I was wearing it as I was having a laugh with some friends,” he said.
“A lad asked 20 to 30 times if he could have the shirt and I just gave into him.
“I wasn’t expecting him to run down to the away fans with it. I thought he would put it into his pocket and go home with it.
“I regret trying to have a laugh with my mates. It was a silly thing to do.”
Another fan, who was sitting five seats away from Sid, has backed up this version of events saying that the man “persisted for 10 minutes” before Sid, who was wearing a coat over the top, gave in and handed over the shirt.
However, he insists Sid remained seated while the other man headed up towards the Sunderland fans with the shirt.
The letter sent to Sid also includes mention of his previous ban of attending matches.
He served a three-year banning order after running onto the pitch to chuck a season ticket at then-manager David Holdsworth in 2012.
But Sid, who even has his own chant with the fans, says he learnt his lesson last time and admits will be gutted if he can’t go and watch Lincoln City.
“I am upset really – you don’t want to miss any Lincoln games. It is something to do on a weekend and most of my mates go.
“I have been good this season. I was good last season. I didn’t cause any trouble or the season before that.”
Sid, who famously wore a bra to a game once as part of a protest, says he has yet to speak to anyone from the club about the ban but disputes a part of the letter, which says he was kicked out of the stadium, which he denies ever happened.
Acceptable Behaviour Agreement
The letter has explained to Sid that a decision will be made in May and if it is agreed he can return, the football fan will have to sign an Acceptable Behaviour Agreement in order to be allowed back to games.
However, Sid is hopeful something can be sorted out much sooner.
He said: “Hopefully, we can get it sorted. I have got a ticket for Friday [against Shrewsbury Town] but don’t know if I can go.
“Hopefully, we can get it sorted so I can go and support the boys and that.”
Other supporters and friends have also rallied to support Sid, who received the letter on the morning of last Saturday’s away game against Peterborough United.
His situation has been shared on social media and one fan, Jack Mulhall, has even written a letter to the club arguing that is unfair Sid has been banned.
A number of other supporters have put their name down on the letter showing their support for Sid.
It is not yet clear if the other supporter received a similar punishment.
Lincoln City was contacted for a response, but doesn’t comment on individual banning orders.
