Pitch invader banned from football for 3 years

The man who ran onto the pitch at Highbury last month has been given a three year England and Wales football league ban for running onto the playing surface. Deputy District Judge Michael Wood sentenced French to a 12 month community order consisting of 200 hours unpaid work for the offence of common assault.

"He simply didn't think," said French's lawyer. "He was clearly more affected by the excitement more than anything and that goal set him off and he lost it and ran into the goalkeeper.

"It was a spontaneous act of stupidity.

"He apologises for the stress that he has caused. He will certainly think about it again if he goes to any football game in the future."