Ex-Met Detective Gordon Irikefe Banned from Football for Hooliganism

Ex-Met officer Gordon Irikefe banned from UK football matches for hooliganism, including throwing a flare and chanting about a fatal crash.

Ex-Met officer Gordon Irikefe banned from UK football matches for three years after throwing a flare and chanting about a fatal helicopter crash.

 

London, UK – A former Metropolitan Police detective has been handed a three-year football banning order after engaging in hooliganism at Arsenal matches.

 

Gordon Irikefe, an Arsenal fan, was barred from all UK football games following a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday. The court also ruled that he cannot go within a mile of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium or within two miles of any England national team match for four hours before and after kick-off.

 

Irikefe, who resigned from the force on 12 February before being dismissed without notice, was found guilty of gross misconduct by a police disciplinary hearing. Between October 2022 and April 2024, he repeatedly engaged in disorderly and anti-social behavior at football matches.

 

The court heard that Irikefe was previously flagged for misconduct multiple times. One of the key incidents involved him shouting "helicopter" during an away game against Leicester City in February 2023. The chant referenced the tragic helicopter crash that killed Leicester City’s owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, and four others in 2018.

 

Further reports revealed that Irikefe hurled abuse at a Leicester player, made obscene gestures, and intimidated other fans by concealing his identity and using pyrotechnics.

 

One of the most serious offenses occurred on 17 April 2024, when Irikefe lit and threw a flare into a crowd during a match in Munich. German police arrested him the same day, fining him €100 (£83) for wearing a full balaclava and sunglasses inside Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena.

 

Det Supt Emma Bond condemned his actions, stating, "Irikefe’s behavior was unacceptable for anyone, let alone a police officer who should uphold the highest standards both on and off duty."

 

Following his dismissal, he will also be placed on the College of Policing’s barred list, preventing any future employment in law enforcement.