The Scouse Man City fan, 29, who risked injuring players and supporters when he threw blue smoke flare onto the pitch during May's Premier League decider

24.06.2022 - 09:55 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

A Manchester City fan has been fined and handed a football banning order after he was captured throwing a blue smoke flare onto the pitch during last season's frantic title decider at the Etihad stadium. Phillip Maxwell, 29, hurled the pyrotechnic over the heads of supporters towards away fans after Rodri scored a late equaliser.

The 78th minute goal formed part of a dramatic come-back for City who had been two goals down at home to Aston Villa, and were looking like they might lose the title to Liverpool. Kevin De Bruyne's winner three minutes later handed the Blues the trophy, prompting delirious scenes and a pitch invasion after the final whistle.

A court heard lifelong City fan Maxwell, from Liverpool, hurled one of 20 smoke flares that were thrown by supporters during the game amid a troubling increase in disorder at football matches last season. He is the second City fan to receive a football banning order following trouble at the game.

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Prosecutor Shahid Khan told Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court yesterday (Thursday) that Maxwell threw the flare after the 'local team' scored an equaliser during an 'important championship deciding match'. The pyrotechnic, which was issuing blue smoke, 'crossed over the heads of supporters and stewards', he said, adding that hurling the missile 'risked injury to the supporters and staff'.

Greater Manchester Police football hooligan 'spotter', PC Matthew Ford, captured the incident on a hand-held camera, the court heard. The footage, which was played in court, showed a close up of Maxwell, wearing a white baseball cap, throwing the flare towards a section of Aston Villa