A Metropolitan Police officer has been dismissed after throwing a firework into the crowd during Arsenal’s defeat to Bayern Munich in Germany.

Detective Constable Gordon Irikefe was found guilty of gross misconduct for engaging in ‘unacceptable’ football hooliganism at Arsenal matches between October 2022 and April last year.

Following a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today, he was also issued with a three-year ban from attending football matches in the United Kingdom, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.

Det Con Irikefe, who was attached to the force’s Central South Command Unit, faced a misconduct hearing on Thursday after allegations that he lit and threw a pyrotechnic into the crowd while attending an away fixture in Munich on 17th April last year while off duty.

He was arrested and fined €100 (£83) by German police on the same day for wearing a full balaclava and sunglasses inside the stadium.

The hearing determined that he had breached professional standards of behaviour relating to discreditable conduct, the force stated.

Additionally, Det Con Irikefe was served with a court summons last October following a separate investigation by the Met’s Central Football Unit.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that he had come to police attention on multiple occasions for disorderly and anti-social behaviour at football matches, leading to previous management action.

At an away match against Leicester City in February 2023, he was heard shouting “helicopter” – an apparent reference to the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the life of Leicester City’s former owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, along with four others, outside the King Power Stadium in October 2018.

The Met also alleged that Det Con Irikefe made lewd gestures and shouted abuse at a substitute player during the match. He was further accused of concealing his identity and intimidating other supporters, including through the use of pyrotechnics.

An application for a football banning order was granted, preventing Det Con Irikefe from attending any regulated football matches in the UK. He must also surrender his passport upon request for any overseas fixtures.

Additionally, he is prohibited from being within one mile of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium or within two miles of any venue hosting an England national team match, from four hours before until four hours after kick-off. He is also barred from entering any town, city, or London borough where an away match is taking place within the same timeframe, the force confirmed.

Det Con Irikefe resigned on 12th February before being formally dismissed without notice. He will also be placed on the College of Policing’s barred list.

Detective Superintendent Emma Bond stated: “DC Irikefe has demonstrated an unacceptable pattern of behaviour at football matches—behaviour that is completely inappropriate for anyone, let alone a police officer who is expected to uphold the highest standards both on and off duty.

“His actions have not only resulted in a football banning order but have also cost him his career.

“I am grateful to our professional standards team and football unit colleagues for gathering the evidence in this case, allowing us to take decisive action.”