Football thug gets four-year ban

Ian Potts . . . violent attack

IAN Potts (40), of Sanderson Close, Worsley, has been banned from attending football matches for four years after he assaulted a 46-year-old man during last year’s Champion’s League final in Rome.

Potts was convicted after pleading guilty to assault at Manchester Magistrates Court and received the four-year football banning order on Monday.

The victim had earlier intervened during an altercation between Potts and a woman outside the stadium, an hour before kick-off last May 27.

Potts threatened the man and they went their separate ways but when he saw the victim inside the stadium, Potts violently attacked him and left him with a serious injury to his ear and permanently scarred.

Det Con Alex Robinson, from the Force Football Intelligence Unit, said: “Potts is clearly not a real supporter and football crowds will be that little bit better without him in them.”

The terms of the banning order also prevent Potts from entering Manchester City Centre on the days Manchester United have a home fixture.

He is also banned from travelling on match day to any town or city where Manchester United or the England team are playing.