A 29-year-old man who tried to invade the pitch at the Champions League final at Wembley as part of a “prank” to get around £250,000 from a vlogger has been banned from football matches in the UK for three years.
Ukranian Yevhenii Lubnenko was wearing a T-shirt bearing the vlogger’s name when stewards stopped him from getting on to the turf less than three minutes after Saturday’s kick-off, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard on Monday.
The Uber driver – who was unable to give the court 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.
The real villain is the Russian who is offering around 300,000 dollars in the UK to do what you regard as a prank
The charge said Lubnenko, who had been in custody since Saturday’s match, had without lawful authority or lawful excuse gone on to an area adjacent to the field of play where spectators were not permitted.
During the hearing he said the challenge had been set up by a Belarusian vlogger, reportedly based in Moscow, who had offered the cash to people who invaded the pitch during the high-profile game while wearing a T-shirt with his name on it.
Photographs from the match showed two intruders with the name Mellstroy written in black and white across their chests running on to the field.
District Judge Michael Snow told Lubnenko: “The real villain is the Russian who is offering around 300,000 dollars in the UK to do what you regard as a prank. I cannot punish him because he is not here.”
Lubnenko was also fined £1,000 which was cut to £660 as credit for his guilty plea, along with £85 costs and a £264 witness surcharge.
The judge 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 come to England to watch the match and maybe do some shopping or see the capital as he “had never been to London before”.
After questions from the judge about what he expected would happen once he got on to the pitch, Lubnenko said he thought he would be thrown out of the ground.
The judge told him: “I appreciate that you did not manage it (to get on to the pitch). You did not really come to the watch the match because you would be kicked out before the game got going, so you came here for the money.
“Is that fair or not fair?”
Lubnenko responded: “Yes, that’s fair.”