An England fan who mocked the death of Diego Maradona already had a lifetime ban from his local club for arranging a flypast with a “white lives matter” banner.
The Football Association cancelled Jake Hepple’s ticket for Thursday’s Euro 2024 qualifier in Naples after he was seen holding a St George’s flag with the words “Diego’s in a box” written on it.
Argentinian Maradona, who died in 2020, is a hero in the city, where he helped Napoli win five trophies. There is a statue of him in the club’s ground, which is named after him.
Hepple was banned from Burnley FC after the white lives banner was flown over Manchester City ’s Etihad Stadium three years ago.
It appeared as City and Burnley players took the knee to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd at the hands of US police.
Hepple, 27, a welder from Burnley, Lancs, claimed to have helped arrange the flypast. But it cost him his job at Paradigm Precision, which sacked him for “a breach of policies and procedures”.
Hepple, who has been previously been pictured with his arm around the English Defence League’s far right founder Tommy Robinson, later said: “I’m not racist. My employer, the club and so many others completely overreacted. I stand by this banner and what it says 100%. I’m not sorry at all and I’m not ashamed of what I’ve done.”
Police said the flypast was not a crime. Thursday’s match between Italy and England, which England won 2-1, was held at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
After Hepple was pictured with the St George’s Cross this week, a statement from the FA said: “We strongly condemn the actions of the individual who travelled to Naples with a flag that had a highly offensive message on it.
“The matter will be reviewed further when we return to England.”
