A suspected football hooligan accused of being involved in an attack on Serbian fans on the streets of Gelsenkirchen was previously arrested in Germany for having a Nazi symbol painted on his body.
Gordon Thomas, 39, who now faces being banned from matches, was previously held by police in 2006 over an SS symbol painted on his back as he watched the England World Cup game against Paraguay.
He was fined €50 and later released but subsequently won £750 compensation regarding the time he was held by British police and a judge said that he had been unaware the symbol had been painted on him at the time.
Following his latest trip to Germany, he was detained at Manchester Airport on Monday evening under the Football Spectators Act 1989 after he returned to the UK.
Mr Thomas, of Bolton, appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday accused of being part of the violence in Gelsenkirchen ahead of Sunday’s 1-0 win against Serbia, which was classified as high risk by local police owing to concerns about potential trouble.
‘I do not know what I am supposed to have done’
Violence erupted on Sunday afternoon when English hooligans rushed Serbian fans sitting outside the Hirt steakhouse and started a fight between more than 100 people.
Laura Peers, prosecuting, told the court that police were now seeking a football banning order against Mr Thomas.
“This is not a criminal matter, it’s a complaint by police to impose a football banning order because they say they can provide evidence that you caused or contributed to violence or disorder,” she said.
Mr Thomas, who represented himself, told the court that he’d been served with court papers on arrival at Manchester Airport but hadn’t been made aware of the evidence against him.
“I do not know what it is I am supposed to have done,” he said.
District judge Joanne Hirst adjourned the case so MrThomas could seek legal advice but she warned him that it was a “serious” matter that could lead to him being banned from football matches for three years.
She handed him conditional bail which means he is not allowed to travel outside England or Wales before his next court appearance on August 23.
The court heard that Mr Thomas’ passport had already been seized by police.
Trouble had flared outside a restaurant in Gelsenkirchen and video on social media showed tables, chairs and bottles being thrown before riot officers arrived.
German police said a group of Serbian fans were eating inside when a large group of England fans tried to get in. Eight people were detained and one fan was taken to hospital with a head injury.