A MAN has appeared in court charged with going onto the pitch during a Bradford City away match.

Kian Lambert, 20, of Royds Hall Avenue, Bradford, faced one count of going onto the playing area at a football match - football (offences) act 1991.

This took place during the Bantams’ 4-1 win at Sutton United on April 30, 2022.

The charge stated that without any lawful authority, or lawful excuse, Lambert went onto the playing area at Sutton’s Gander Green Lane pitch on that date.

Lambert was handed a four-year football banning order for the offence.

Under the terms of the order he must not enter any premises for the purpose of attending any football matches in the United Kingdom.

Under the order, on the day when Bradford City are playing in a fixture at their home ground, Valley Parade, Lambert is not to approach within three miles of the stadium in the period between three hours prior to the kick-off and two hours after the end of the game.

On the day when the Bantams are playing a home game, he is not to approach within half a mile of the Bradford Interchange railway station, or Foster Square railway station, in the period between three hours prior to the kick off and two hours after the end of the game.

The following restrictions also apply for Bradford City away games for Lambert.

Under the order, Lambert is not to approach within five miles of the away team’s stadium where the game is taking place, in the period between three hours prior to the kick-off and two hours after the end of the game.

Lambert can also not go on a train or the London Underground on a day of an away Bradford City match without the ‘express permission of the British Transport Police’.

The banning order also apply to international matches. It states: “On the day when England International football team are playing in a fixture in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) not to approach within five miles of the stadium where the game is taking place, in the period between three hours prior to kick-off and three hours after the end of the game.”

Lambert was also fined £100 and ordered to pay a £34 victim surcharge for the offence.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at South London Magistrates’ Court in Croydon on May 24, 2022.