A Ukrainian man who tried to invade the pitch at the Champions League final at Wembley did so as part of a ‘prank’ to get £250,000 from a Russian vlogger.
Yevhenii Lubnenko, 29, attempted to enter the pitch less than three minutes after kick-off at Saturday’s showcase between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.
He was wearing a t-shirt bearing the name of scandalous Moscow-based vlogger ‘Mellstroy’ when stewards stopped him from getting on to the turf, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard on Monday.
The Uber driver – who was unable to give the court a UK address – pleaded guilty to going on to the playing area at a football match contrary to Section 4 of the Football (Offences) Act 1991.
The judge issued Lubnenko, a Manchester City supporter, a fine and banned him from attending football matches in the UK for three years.
Two other people have been arrested and charged with invading the pitch during the UEFA showcase on Saturday night.
Yevhenii Lubnenko, 29, attempted to enter the pitch less than three minutes after kick-off at Saturday’s showcase between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. Lubnenko is pictured leaving Westminster Magistrates’ Court, central London, on Monday
Lubnenko, who had been in custody since Saturday’s match, pleaded guilty to going on to the playing area at a football match contrary to Section 4 of the Football (Offences) Act 1991 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday. He is pictured leaving the hearing
Lubnenko, who had been in custody since Saturday’s match, 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’.
He told the hearing how Mellstroy, reportedly based in Moscow, had set up a challenge offering 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.
However, Lubnenko was stopped before he could make on to the pitch, the court heard. He was then charged under Section 4 of the Football (Offences) Act 1991.
The charge said he had without lawful authority or lawful excuse gone on to an area adjacent to the field of play where spectators were not permitted.
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.
District Judge Michael Snow 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.’
Lubnenko was wearing a t-shirt bearing the name of scandalous Moscow-based vlogger ‘Mellstroy’ (pictured) when stewards stopped him from getting on to the turf, the court heard. Mellstroy allegedly had set up a challenge offering cash to people who invaded the pitch during the high-profile game while promoting his name
The judge added: ‘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.
‘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.’
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 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. He was also banned from football matches in the UK for three years.
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.’
In slightly broken English, 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’, adding: ‘I stood in a room in a police station and for me that was one of the worst day of my life – that was big punishment for me.’
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.
Photographs from the match showed two intruders with the name Mellstroy written in black and white across their chests running on to the field. Lubnenko did not make it on to the field
Earlier the Metropolitan Police said David Carneckij, 28, and a 16-year-old boy have also been accused of going on to 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 to appear at Highbury Corner Youth Court on June 24.
The force said inquiries continue into two other people arrested in connection with the incident.
The Metropolitan Police made 56 arrests around the Champions League final on Saturday night – most of which were for attempts to breach security.
