A police officer who took part in tragedy chanting against Liverpool fans has been sacked.
Sergeant Tyler Coppin, of Essex Police, pleaded guilty to the public order offence while at a Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on 20 October.
Merseyside Police said that the officer was seen by club stewards chanting toward Liverpool supporters, before being ejected from the stadium and arrested by local police.
Coppin was handed a three-year football banning order, along with £645 in fines and costs in December.
On Friday, a misconduct panel – chaired by Essex Police’s Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington – found Coppin had breached standards of professional behaviour concerning honesty and integrity, authority, respect and courtesy and discreditable conduct.
He was dismissed from the force without notice and will be placed on the College of Policing barred list.
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The chief constable noted Coppin’s remorse for the incident and his previously unblemished policing record, but added that while the dismissal was over “a moment’s serious stupidity… this is the only appropriate outcome”.
He added: “His actions will seriously undermine public trust and confidence and I must send a clear message to officers, staff and the wider public that behaviour such as this cannot and will not be tolerated in policing.
“If officers are responsible for upholding the law, it cannot be right that they break it.”
The Crown Prosecution Service describes tragedy chanting as when fans sing, chant or gesture offensive messages about disasters or accidents involving players or fans.
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It comes after Leeds United accused a section of Millwall fans of singing “vile chants” during Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Elland Road.
The club said in a statement alleging chants relating to the murders of Whites fans Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus before a UEFA Cup semi-final at Galatasaray in 2000 were made during the game.
