Chelsea pitch invader fined for Martin Dubravka assault

A Chelsea fan who assaulted Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has been fined £807 and given a three-year football banning order.

Jordan Chidley, 25, ran on to the pitch during a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie between the two Premier League teams at Stamford Bridge on 19 December.

It happened after Chelsea scored a late equaliser to take the tie to penalties.

Chidley, from Sidcup, admitted assault by beating and unlawfully going on to a playing area at a football match.

Prosecutor Malachy Pakenham told Westminster Magistrates' Court that Chidley ran over to the Newcastle goalkeeper after Chelsea scored the injury-time equaliser.

"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".

Sentencing him, District Judge Neeta Minhas said she wanted to "send out a message to deter other people from doing something similar".

The west London club won the penalty shootout 4-2. They went on to defeat Middlesbrough and will face Liverpool in the final of the competition later this month.

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