SEVEN Oxford United fans who invaded the pitch at the Kassam Stadium have been handed ‘yellow cards’ warning them to behave.

Supporters ran on to the pitch on April 26 during United’s final Blue Square Premier League game of the 2008-9 season against Northwich Victoria, after the home side scored an equalising goal.

Police appealed to the public for help to identify the culprits.

Seven fans tracked down during a six-month police investigation have now signed Acceptable Behaviour Contracts pledging to behave at matches in the future.

These are the first such contracts ever issued on behalf of the club. If any of the seven are caught breaking stadium rules again they will be banned from U’s games.

Of about 30 people identified by the police, 16 have received cautions – including a 13-year-old girl – while four men were charged under the Football Offences Act.

Sgt Alan Coffey said: “We have carried out a painstaking investigation, reviewing all of the images and information we had, in an effort to identify the individuals who went on the pitch.

“We have looked at each case individually and handed out a proportionate punishment or response.”

By signing the Abcs the seven fans have pledged, among other conditions, not to set foot on the pitch at the stadium, in Grenoble Road.

Their names and details have been circulated to stadium staff and stewards.

Sgt Coffey added: “People are now under no illusion that we expect acceptable behaviour from them. It acts like a yellow card.

“If they step out of line again, the club will act. We’ve given them a chance.

“The majority of people are well behaved, but this small group stepped over the mark on one occasion.

“Essentially they have done something wrong and have signed up and now know what’s expected of them at matches.”

Officers investigating the incident checked dozens of photographs and searched for video footage on the Internet.

Oxford United secretary Mick Brown said: “This is the first time the club has done anything like this. They’ve had their warning.

“We don’t want to go round banning people willy-nilly but what happened was deplorable and we don’t want anything like that to happen again.”

The investigation team worked closely with the club and the Crown Prosecution Service. Prosecutor Caroline Hitchcock said recent invasions and violence involving Leyton Orient and Lincoln City fans had been investigated just as thoroughly, but, in contrast to this inquiry, no-one had been identified.

The men charged over the invasion are expected to appear before Oxford magistrates next week.

Joseph Nicholls, 29, of The Vineyard, Abingdon; Paul Woodburn, 41, of Brize Norton Road, Minster Lovell; and Richard Sale, 24, of Plantation Road, Oxford, are each charged with two breaches of the Football Offences Act and are on bail until a court hearing on Friday, October 30.

John McMahon, 27, of Fernhill Road, Oxford, has also been charged and was bailed until next Wednesday.

mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk