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A season ticket holder banned from Anfield for 'thrusting his crotch into a female steward's face' was a victim of 'mistaken identity', an appeal heard.

While the vile incident did occur, leaving the young woman badly shaken, the "shocked" fan presented a dossier of evidence which he said proved it was not him to mediation body the Independent Football Ombudsman (IFO).

The Liverpool fan, who has not been named, was so stressed by the accusations he took sick leave from his job as a teacher and was forced to seek medical help.

Teacher with 'unblemished record'

The man fell foul of Liverpool FC after the incident at a Carabao Cup tie against Chelsea on September 26 last year.

A letter, dated October 16, informed him his ticket had been revoked and he would be banned from Anfield indefinitely for "inappropriate behaviour" towards the steward.

The teacher, who has no criminal record, an "unblemished" record with the club and who is "heavily involved" with charity work, immediately asked for an internal appeal.

When the club upheld their original decision, he turned to the IFO who conducted their own review.

A report, by head IFO Ombudsman Professor Derek Fraser, states: "(The fan) was deeply shocked to receive the Club’s banning letter and he was mystified by the accusations."

The IFO also criticised the club for not making clear the full details of the allegations against him until after his appeal had been considered.

Liverpool say they have taken steps to address the concerns.

(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

The offence

The chain of events began after a female steward tried to search a man - described as of mixed-race and wearing a baseball cap, dark hoody and jeans - at the Chelsea match.

The account given by Liverpool FC stated: "A young female steward still in training was deployed at Gate D and was engaged in searching a party of three males, one of whom 'proceeded to open his arms and push me against the wall.'

"She reported that he then 'turned round, bent over in front of me laughing' and when searching his ankles 'he thrusted his crotch in my face'."

The club's ticketing team launched an investigation and became aware of an incident four days earlier, at a Premier League game against Southampton, which did involve the teacher.

(Image: PA)

The IFO report says: "An experienced female steward at Gate D reported that a male described as mixed race asked to be searched by a female and that during the search he 'was moving his body towards me trying to push me back'.

"While searching his right leg, 'that was when he tried to put his crotch near me'.

"No report on the incident was submitted at the time and the steward commented 'I just carried on doing my job'.

The 'passionate defence'

A male steward, who witnessed both incidents, later picked out the teacher, who is also mixed-race, as the culprit - leading to a Liverpool disciplinary panel imposing the ban.

In his internal appeal against the club's decision, the fan accepted he had interacted with a steward at the Southampton game but denied making any physical contact.

He told the IFO he had "danced in front of her" and said: "It was totally intended as a bit of light-hearted fun which I believed the female steward could see and I made this clear to the male steward who did not see any reason to intervene.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

"I have not made any physical contact with anybody."

Liverpool FC accepted the Southampton incident alone was not serious enough to warrant a ban.

However the man submitted detailed evidence which he claimed proved his innocence of the later Chelsea match incident.

'Miscarriage of justice'

Professor Fraser states in the report: "In the IFO’s view the complainant has raised a number of issues which give rise to the possibility that there may have been a miscarriage of justice."

A key piece of evidence revolved around the time the man's ticket was recorded as entering the turnstile at the Chelsea game, which kicked off at 7.45pm.

According to the victim and witnesses, the incident occurred at 7.48pm and the offender "proceeded immediately to the turnstiles" - which would have taken no more than two minutes.

However the club's own data showed that the teacher did not enter the turnstiles until 7.57pm - which tied in with his account of waiting for late-running friends.

The complainant also highlighted the club had produced no CCTV of the incidents or his movements on the night despite "a plethora" of cameras at Anfield.

The club blames this on the automatic deletion of footage after a set period to comply with new data protection rules.

'More than a reasonable doubt'

Professor Fraser stated the IFO agreed with a ban for the person who abused the steward.

However he concluded: "There is more than a reasonable doubt that the complainant was the guilty party. "

The IFO recommended the teacher was allowed to make a fresh appeal with the full evidence considered.

What do the club say?

Liverpool say the IFO report is being considered and a new investigation will take place.

A club spokesman said: "Liverpool Football Club has an obligation to investigate any and all allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

“Any such allegations are taken extremely seriously which, where appropriate, can lead to action being taken up to and including a lifetime stadium ban.

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“We provide an appeals process to ticket holders and encourage those who are not satisfied with the outcome to take their case to the Independent Football Ombudsman.

“We would not comment on the details of any specific case while it is ongoing, particularly when under review by an independent and specialist organisation.

"The outcome of the case will be communicated to the individual as soon as is possible.”

The whole IFO report can be read here.