A FOOTBALL fan who threw a flare at a referee has become the first woman in Britain to be banned from all matches.
CCTV footage showed Abbie-Leigh Reay, 23, dancing in celebration when the missile landed near ref Lee Swabey and the opposition goalie.
Police stopped the Tranmere fan as she left her team’s 4-0 League Two defeat to Forest Green Rovers in January.
Despite her arrest, Reay posted winking pictures of her at the match with her girlfriend, along with a laughing emoji and the caption: “Before it all went downhill.”
Aldi worker Reay, of Bebington, Wirral, got a three-year ban after she was convicted of throwing a missile on to a football playing area.
Sefton JPs fined her £250 with £654 costs.
Sentencing, District Judge Paul Healey, said: “You throw the flare on to the pitch which puts people there at risk.
“No one is struck but there is a risk and as a result of your actions, police and stewards had to intervene.
“There was a large crowd which put them in a difficult situation.
“They have to take action.
"There is a risk of it escalating further.”
