A Manchester City fan who chanted slurs during a game at Anfield has been banned from football matches. Kian Holt, 19, was in the away section of Anfield Road with other Manchester City fans when a steward saw him banging on a metal wall and shouting tragedy chants towards Liverpool fans, a court heard.
The incident happened during Liverpool’s Premier League fixture at Anfield on December 1, 2024. On Wednesday (January 8), South Sefton Magistrates’ Court heard how the steward reported the 19-year-old to police following the incident.
Holt was later arrested on suspicion of tragedy chanting. Ed Hanley, prosecuting, said when he was confronted by police he told the officer: “I don’t even know what that means”, reports the Echo.
Mr Hanley continued: “In his interview, he accepted he shouted it out of anger as Manchester City were losing at half time.”
Holt, wearing a grey suit and blue shoes, pleaded guilty to using threatening/abusive words/behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Anfield stadium
(Image: Getty Images)
It was heard how Holt, of Medlar-with-Wesham, Lancashire, has ‘a lot of respect for the city’ after he was born with a hole in his heart that required treatment in Alder Hey Children’s Hospital as recently as 2020.
Alison Sharples, defending, read a statement from Holt which said: “I have never understood the impact my behaviour would have until it was explained to me.”
Ms Sharples went on to explain he is a season ticket holder at Manchester City and how he has reflected on his behaviour since the incident. She continued: “He went home to his grandfather and his grandfather sat him down to explain the tragedies that have occurred and the impact the actions have on fans.”
District Judge Paul Healey said: “The incident took place at a football match, a high profile match with thousands of people. People get emotional, people shout and scream, support their team. There are, however, limits as to what can be said.
“Your actions clearly referenced a football tragedy, people there will have lived through these football tragedies, they may have lost people close to them. There is limits on what is acceptable in that context, you accept you went too far and you have reflected on that.”
Passing sentence, Judge Healey said he recognised Holt’s remorse and guilty plea, describing the defendant as ‘genuine and respectful’ before handing him a three year Football Banning Order.
Holt was also told to pay a £200 fine, £85 prosecution cost and £80 victim fee, all to be paid within three months. As Holt left the dock he wiped tears from his face.