‘Why didn’t they tell us to leave or refuse entry?’ Amateur football team slams Wetherspoons pub staff for reporting them to police for breaking lockdown rules as they relaxed outside pub with a pint after their match
- Josh Robertson said he was among the team at The Wouldhave in South Shields
- They were mid-pint when one of the Wetherspoon workers challenged the group
- Northumbria Police said the men claimed they were from the same household
- Mr Robertson, 26, rejected this, saying group were outside on two tables of four
Police have fined 12 members of an amateur football team who were drinking in a pub and claimed to be from the same household.
Josh Robertson said he was among those caught as his side drank at The Wouldhave Wetherspoon in South Shields after a match on Sunday.
They were mid-pint when a concerned staff member challenged them, only to be told by the men they were from the same household.
But the worker called police to report a breach of the coronavirus regulations and officers issued the group with fines.
Mr Robertson, 26, has rejected the story told by Northumbria Police and the pub, claiming the group never said they lived in the same house.
Josh Robertson (centre) said he was among those caught as his side drank at The Wouldhave Wetherspoon in South Shields after a match on Sunday. It is not clear if the two men picture were also there
They were mid-pint when a concerned staff member at the pub (pictured) challenged them, only to be told by the men they were from the same household
He wrote: ‘We didn’t get challenged or anything no-one said anything and no-one said we all lived together. What we gonna say we all lived in the big brother house like?
‘We went in and were told to sit on tables of four which we did and eight of them were outside in the beer garden when the fines were issued.
‘If they were at risk of getting a fine why didn’t they tell us to leave or refuse entry before letting us sit there and order drinks before phoning the police.’
He added: ‘But I forgot ya can only get the disease in a pub and not on a football pitch where 22 people are playing a contact sport.’
Mr Robertson, 26, has rejected the story told by Northumbria Police and the pub, claiming the group never said they lived in the same house
South Tyneside is currently under Tier 2 restrictions meaning residents cannot socialise with people from other households in any indoor setting.
Chief superintendent Janice Hutton, of Northumbria Police, said: ‘This group showed a flagrant disregard for the rules which are in place to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
‘Actions like this undermine the efforts being made by the majority of others in order to protect themselves, their family, friends and wider communities.
‘We will continue to work closely with our communities and offer advice to people who have mistakenly broken the restrictions.
‘However, as we have made clear, where individuals are choosing to ignore the measures in place, we are committed to taking enforcement action to protect our communities.’
The force declined to name the football team, or the pub.
