A Met Police detective is facing a misconduct hearing after being accused of “wearing a full balaclava and throwing a flare” while off-duty at a Arsenal FC Champion’s League football match. Detective Constable Gordon Irikefe, who is part of the Central South Command Unit, has been accused of breaching the standards of professional behaviour on April 17, 2024. A hearing for discreditable conduct will take place at 9am on February 20.
DC Irikefe was arrested for wearing a full balaclava and sunglasses inside the Allianz Arena in Munich on April 17 last year, a Met police notice ahead of the hearing said. His behaviour amounted to a 'masking' offence, for which he received a fine of 100 euros, the force said. Arsenal faced Bayern Munich in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final. The match concluded with a 1-0 victory for Bayern, securing their progression to the semi-finals with a 3-2 aggregate score.
It is further alleged that DC Irikefe was captured on CCTV lighting and throwing a flare while in the crowd at the football match. The behaviour of DC Irikefe is alleged to amount to a breach of the standards of professional behaviour relating to discreditable conduct. If the allegations are proved as gross misconduct, DC Irikefe is at risk of being sacked. The notice of the hearing does not state how DC Irikefe is responding to the charge.
