Wolves fan jailed for relegation day pub fight

Punches were thrown during the incident outside the Railway Bell, Brighton, on May 4, 2013.

It came on the day that Wolves were relegated from the Championship after they were beaten 2-0 by Brighton.

Ward Morgan, 27, of Goldthorn Hill, Blakenhall, Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment for both offences to run concurrent and given a six year football banning order.

Sukhraj Boparai, 24, of Copse Road, Dudley; Ricky Briffa, 26, of Trench Road, Telford; Jordan Hodkins, 19, of Wilson Road, Coseley, Dudley, and Ricky Bates, 28, of Marnel Drive, Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to affray and were each sentenced to nine months imprisonment suspended for two years and given three year football banning orders.

Pc Darren Balkham, Surrey and Sussex force football intelligence officer, said: "This was a joint investigation with colleagues from West Midlands Football Unit.

"This incident took place on a day Wolverhampton Wanderers were relegated from the championship.

"More than 2,000 Wolves fans attended the Amex stadium with little or no incident of note.

"These men are not true fans of the team and didn't portray the behaviour of the majority. These sentences reflect the seriousness of the incident and prevent them from attending games, including the European Championship in France this summer."

The five were sentenced at Brighton Crown Court last Friday.

The game proved an unhappy outing for Wolves, who lost 2-0 to Brighton.

The result confirmed their relegation to League One, just a year after dropping out of the Premier League.

Tensions rose from the supporters with some of the players at the final whistle.

Defender Roger Johnson, who cost the club £4million, was unable to give his shirt away as fans snubbed his offer.

He last played for Charlton Athletic.