Champions League pitch invader banned from games after ‘£250k Belarusian vlogger prank’
A man who tried to invade the pitch at the Champions League final at Wembley as part of a prank to win £250,000 from a Belarusian vlogger has been handed a three-year ban from UK football games.
Ukrainian Yevhenii Lubnenko, 29, was wearing a T-shirt with the vlogger’s name on it when stewards stopped him from getting on the turf less than three minutes after kick-off on Saturday, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard on Monday.
The Uber driver – who was unable to give a UK address, saying “I do not remember, I am here for a few days” – pleaded guilty to going on to the playing area at a football match contrary to Section 4 of the Football (Offences) Act 1991.
Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid on the pitch during the match. Pic: PA
Lubnenko, who had been in custody since Saturday’s match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, said the challenge had been set by a vlogger reportedly based in Moscow.
The vlogger, Mellstroy, had offered the cash to people who invaded the pitch while wearing a T-shirt with his name on it.
Photos from the game captured two intruders with Mellstroy written in black and white across their chests running onto the field.
District Judge Michael Snow told Lubnenko: “The real villain is the Russian who is offering around $300,000 in the UK to do what you regard as a prank. I cannot punish him because he is not here.
“You recognise that this was a major sporting event for the UK. It was an important club football match in Europe that takes place in any year. The eyes of Europeans and many people around the world are on the match and they want to watch the match uninterrupted.
“The players taking part in that match are taking part in an important match in their career.”
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Ticketless fans try to storm Wembley
The judge told Lubnenko that “your behaviour, you being one of three [people], may have affected their concentration in what was one of the most important matches of their career”.
Lubnenko was fined £1,000 which was cut to £660 as credit for his guilty plea, along with £85 costs and a £264 witness surcharge.
Judge Snow ruled the fine and costs were covered by his time in custody and Lubnenko was ordered to pay the surcharge.
Lubnenko, a Manchester City supporter, had told the court he had travelled to England to watch the match, and do some shopping or see the capital as he “had never been to London before”.
But the judge told him: “I appreciate that you did not manage it [to get on to the pitch]. You did not really come to watch the match because you would be kicked out before the game got going, so you came here for the money.”
Read more: Wembley security was an improvement – but lessons still to be learnt
The judge said the banning order means Lubnenko cannot attend any football matches in the UK for three years, warning him: “So don’t go, even if it is to see Manchester City.”
Lubnenko apologised “to everyone in the stadium and the players” saying he was “very sorry about what I tried to do”.
He said the banning order was “fair” and that being questioned in a police station was one of the worst days of his life, adding: “That was big punishment for me.”
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Lubnenko, who arrived in England on Friday and was due to leave on Monday, is set to fly out of the country within days to see relatives in Germany.
The Metropolitan Police earlier said that two others – David Carneckij, 28, and a 16-year-old boy – have also been accused of going on the playing area at a football match contrary to Section 4 of the Football (Offences) Act 1991.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is set to appear at Highbury Corner Youth Court on 24 June.
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The force said inquiries continue into two other people arrested in connection with the incident.
Police made 56 arrests around the game – most of which were for attempts to breach security.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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