Tommy Robinson faces a blanket ban on attending England matches
Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson) is facing a complete ban on attending England matches both in the UK and abroad after being filmed punching a Three Lions fan in Portugal.
The former English Defence League leader was caught on camera swinging at the man who was knocked to the ground ahead of England’s 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands in the city of Guimaraes.
Now Bedfordshire Police, Robinson’s local police force, is working with the UK Football Policing Unit to hit him with a football banning order.
If successful, the order would see Yaxley-Lennon, barred from attending England games in both UK stadiums and abroad.
A spokeswoman for Bedfordshire Police told the PA new agency: “We can confirm we have served papers on an individual regarding an application for a football banning order.”
The next hearing is due to take place on October 18 at Luton Crown Court.
She confirmed Yaxley-Lennon was the individual in question, but added that as the case is a civil and not a criminal matter, the force would not be commenting further ahead of the hearing.
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In the wake of the incident in Portugal, which was widely circulated on social media, Yaxley-Lennon claimed he lashed out because the England fan had been “verbally threatening”. Yaxley-Lennon said the incident happened in front of security staff, who allowed him into the game.
Yaxley-Lennon, who had two milkshakes thrown at him while out campaigning during his failed bid to become an MEP, said: “Any man out with their wife should be free to walk the streets without being threatened or abused because of their politics.”
Yaxley-Lennon was released from prison last month after serving two months of a nine-month sentence for contempt of court.
He was locked up in July for live-streaming on Facebook a video which featured defendants in a sexual exploitation trial in breach of a specific court order and put the case at risk of collapse.
In 2011, he was convicted of leading a street brawl involving 100 football fans and sentenced to a 12-month community rehabilitation order, 150 hours of unpaid work, and a three-year football banning order.
Robinson shouted “EDL till I die” and encouraged fellow Luton Town supporters as they clashed in the town with Newport County fans.
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