Bans for soccer thugs after clash in pub

Several people were assaulted and furniture at The Bessemer in Leopold Street was damaged in the incident on August 24.

The 16 men and a teenager, who were all either Sheffield Wednesday or Sheffield United fans, appeared at court last month and pleaded guilty public order offences. They were sentenced this week at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court, with the majority being issued with banning orders.

Detective Inspector Graham Bulmer of South Yorkshire Police said: “The majority of these men have now been rightly banned from a game that they profess to be ‘fans’ of and this should send out a stark message to anyone intent of engaging in violence at football matches – you will be identified and prosecuted.”