Calls for police probe after fan shone laser pen at Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s face
UEFA charge England for bad fan behaviour over shameful laser shone at Danish ‘keeper Schmeichel before penalty, fans booing the national anthem and fireworks set off by supporter
Football federation UEFA have hit England with three disciplinary charges – after a fan shone a laser pen in Kasper Schmeichel‘s face before Harry Kane‘s penalty.
The group – which represents the sport in Europe – are also investigating Three Lions supporters booing during Denmark’s national anthem and setting off fireworks or flares.
The triple-whammy allegations will be investigated by UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body and are the first time a team in this tournament a team has been charged over fans booing rivals anthems. Punishments include fines of up to £8,000 and official warnings.
England has been fined £4,300 before for supporters disrupting another side’s national song.
The laser pen incident saw an unmistakable green beam flickered across the Denmark keeper’s head as the England captain was lining up to take his shot.
It appeared to hit one of Schmeichel’s eyes only briefly with the coloured light mostly dancing over his cheek and forehead.
The torch-style gadgets have been a problem at sporting events for some time – affecting Wayne Rooney and Jose Mourinho – but in recent years have been rarely seen at football matches.
There is a law relating to them being used to endanger vehicles but would not cover individuals. It may be the offence would fall under an assault category. In the UK people have been jailed for as long as 32 months for shining the lights at aircraft.
A spokesperson for the Met Police would only say to MailOnline they were looking at whether it was something they would investigate.
An England supporter shone a laser in Kasper Schmeichel’s face before England’s penalty as he faced Harry Kane head on
Kane converted the rebound after the Denmark goalkeeper had saved his spot-kick, sending the fans into raptures
Tom said those who had shone the lasers should be identified and banned by the police to deter others doing similar actions
Tim said that whoever was responsible needed to be banned and handed a police caution, but added it did not affect goal
Only last year a man was jailed for four months for shining a laser pen into an aircraft.
Alexandru Gheorghe, 28, from Redditch, Worcestershire, dazzled the occupants of a police air service helicopter.
He had used a £7 laser pen he had bought off eBay as it was flying over Stratford on its way back to its base.
And in 2019 a father-of-three went to prison for shining a £5 laser pen at a jet, endangering the lives of 180 holidaymakers on board.
Michael Bisgrove, 54, dazzled the pilot on the Beoing 737 at 2,500ft as they returned to Cardiff Airport from the Canary Islands.
A court heard how the light shone through the cockpits window, into the eyes of Captain Robin Small and the TUI crew for about a minute.
The Danish team sing their national anthem amid boos at the start of the historic match, which has led to UEFA charges
When a South Wales Police helicopter was sent to search for Bisgrove, he shone the laser into the eyes of the three officers on board as they hovered at 1,000 ft. He was jailed for 32 months.
In 2010 in America a man was jailed for three years for dazzling a sheriff and being charged with second-degree assault.
The Football Association has previously launched an investigation into fans using the pointers, with one probe launching when Wayne Rooney was targeted in 2015.
Today supporters urged the police to get involved and investigate online.
Twitter user Tim said: ‘Whoever used the laser pointer does deserve a lifetime ban and a police caution.
‘As he saved the penalty he was thankfully unaware and unharmed.’
Tom added: ‘Those behind the lasers need to be identified and charged by the police.’
A spokesperson for the Met Police said they were looking at whether it was something they would investigate but did not know whether it had been officially reported to the force.
Jimmy added: ‘Whoever shone that laser pen at Schmeichel .
‘Should be done by the police.
‘A green laser pen was shone on his face during the penalty.’
The incident happened when the Three Lions had been awarded a spot-kick in extra-time when Raheem Sterling was brought down by Joakim Maehle.
Just before Kane stepped up to take the penalty, a laser was shone on Schmeichel, 34, from somewhere in the crowd.
Despite the interference, the Denmark goalkeeper saved Kane’s penalty – but he was only able to push the ball straight to the feet of the striker, who converted the rebound. Supporters took to Twitter to condemn the person who tried to disrupt the Leicester shot-stopper.
Former Liverpool and England striker Collymore tweeted: ‘If anyone shone a laser pen at Schmeichel, they want banning for life.’
Fans of England and other nations also criticised the supporter in Wembley, with one tweeting: ‘Whoever shone that laser pen in Kasper Schmeichel face wants banning for life.’
Another added: ‘Whoever showed that laser to Schmeichel’s face deserves a permanent ban from Wembley and further England games.’
Others claimed the outcome of the match was unfair, with England going on to see out the game after Kane converted the rebound.
‘A laser in Schmeichel’s eyes during the penalty too now I see.
‘Really difficult to feel that this is a fair result,’ one supporter wrote.
Another fan said that the laser didn’t affect the goalkeeper as he was still able to make the save, but admitted that it there was no excuse for the ‘stupid’ supporter.
They wrote: ‘That laser pen incident was stupid and there is zero exccuse/ justification for it. I’d ban that ‘fan’ for life.
‘That said, it didn’t affect Schmeichel considering he saved the penalty.
‘Still, a very poor incident.’
Others commented on how bad of a look it was for England fans, with one writing: ‘Unbelievable. Someone in the crowd was pointing a laser into Schmeichel’s eyes as he was trying to save the penalty Sterling dived for.
‘Horrible look for England this. Disgraceful.’
