'Worrying' - Chelsea ban issued after Newcastle United incident

A Chelsea fan has been banned from attending football matches for three years after jumping onto the pitch to confront Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka during December's Carabao Cup quarter-final tie.

Jordan Chidley, 25, entered the Stamford Bridge pitch from the Matthew Harding Stand after Mykhailo Mudryk scored a 92nd minute equaliser to send the game to penalties. Chidley barged into Dubravka before returning to his seat without much resistance from the matchday stewards, leading Chelsea and the Metropolitan Police to launch an investigation.

Chidley, from Sidcup, admitted assault by beating and unlawfully going on to a playing area at a football match when appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court last week. Prosecutor Malachy Pakenham said: "The steward tries to grab him, he then puts his arms out and grabs and touches the goalie who pulls away from him," Mr Pakenham said. He added that the contact was "quite minimal".

In mitigation for Chidley, the court heard that what he did was not "malicious" but "just euphoria". Chidley was handed an £807 fine and a three-year football banning order.

Chelsea went on to win the penalty shootout 4-2 before booking their place in this month's final at Wembley after defeating Middlesbrough in the two-legged semi-final.

Eddie Howe, who was confronted by a Leeds United fan during Newcastle's 2-2 draw at Elland Road in May, has spoken out about the 'worrying trend' emerging in football.

Speaking last week, Howe highlighted a recent incident involving referee Craig Hicks, who was chased off the field by a supporter during Port Vale's 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth.

"It's a worrying trend," said Howe. "Seeing the referee getting chased off the pitch, that wasn't an enjoyable experience I'm sure for anyone seeing that.

"That is a really worrying thing and that can't happen in the game, that has to be something we never see again. I keep saying from my side, that moment at Leeds was forgotten really quite early for me.

"There was a moment where you're just trying to figure out what is going on but I just want these moments to be used for the good of the game and make sure they're used as examples of what could happen because we don't want a moment where we're going, there were warning signs and we didn't do anything about it.

"Football needs to look at it and make sure no player, referee, or official is put in that position again."