By Ken Afor
Three 18-year-old Arsenal supporters, affiliated with the notorious Ashburton Army, have been slapped with a three-year ban from football following their reported involvement in an incident during an FA Cup match against Liverpool.
The ban was imposed by football authorities in response to the fans’ alleged participation in chanting that referenced a tragedy during the fixture in January.
According to experts, the nature of the chanting, deemed inappropriate and offensive, prompted the swift action from the Football Association (FA).
Also, the FA’s firm stance on the matter underscores their commitment to upholding standards of sportsmanship and ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all fans.
It is believed that this ban serves as a deterrent against similar behavior in the future, emphasizing the consequences of actions that breach codes of conduct and incite offense or harm.
Meanwhile, Arsenal FC, in reaction to the development, commended the FA for their disciplinary action against the supporters.
“We strongly condemn this abhorrent behaviour. We have worked closely with the police to ensure swift action was taken and we welcome the football banning orders handed out.
“We have a zero-tolerance approach to tragedy chanting and will always ensure strong action is taken against those found guilty of such behaviour,” the club stated.
It would be recalled that on January 7, 2024, Arsenal lost 0-2 to Liverpool FC in the Third Round of the FA Cup, knocking the Gunners out of the competition for this season.
Manchester United vs Coventry and Manchester City vs Chelsea will play in the semi-finals of the competition.
