An Essex police officer was fired after chanting at a Liverpool game, leading to arrest and misconduct charges.
He chanted at Liverpool fans: “always the victim, never to blame.” He was there with two Liverpool fan friends. Stewards heard him and ejected him, and he was arrested that day.
Coppin pleaded guilty to a Public Order offence and was banned from football for three years. He claimed he did not know about Hillsborough, where ninety-seven people died in 1989 in a crowd crush tragedy.
The police chief understood Coppin’s regret and that he had a clean record. Still, Coppin was guilty of gross misconduct and was fired immediately, meaning he can never be a police officer again.
Coppin said his “world was falling apart.” A lawyer stated the words were “a well-known chant” that references past Liverpool tragedies and targeted Liverpool supporters directly.
A Police Federation member spoke for Coppin, saying that Chelsea fans see it as mocking fake injuries. Coppin, who said he is not a big football fan, reiterated he was with two Liverpool friends and did not know the Hillsborough link.
Coppin apologized for the offence and damage, stating he is not that kind of person. He expressed shock about the Hillsborough reference and said he would have never said it if he had known.
Coppin wanted to be a police officer, and honesty is part of his values. The Federation asked for a second chance, arguing Coppin did not mean the Hillsborough reference.
The police chief acknowledged Coppin’s remorse potentially and lack of awareness. However, he also stated it was serious stupidity. He broke the law, undermining public trust in police, who must uphold, not break, the law.