TWO football fans have been banned from every ground in the country for three years following clashes between Oxford United and Luton supporters.

U’s supporter Richard Denton and Luton Town fan David Cremin admitted public order offences at Oxford Magistrates’ Court yesterday. The charges relate to United’s home game with the Bedfordshire side last September, which Oxford won 2-0 in front of a crowd of 10,613.

Both men admitted using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress. Denton, 27, of Cowley Road, East Oxford, also admitted failing to surrender to police bail.

Simon Thompson, prosecuting, said Denton, who was convicted of common assault in 2008 after throwing a pair of spectacles at his girlfriend, had been bitten by a police dog outside the Kassam Stadium at about 7.30pm.

Denton later needed 18 stitches but declined hospital treatment at the time and went into the ground.

Mr Thompson added: “There was netting between the two sets of fans, approximately 10 metres apart, secured to the seating area.

“During the match both sets of fans were seen to push the netting closer to each other and taunt each other.

“Mr Cremin was involved in the push from Luton to get access.

“Mr Denton was seen at the front of the netting gesturing towards the Luton fans.”

Mr Thompson said a steward described the situation as “very scary” and “out of control”.

The court heard 23-year-old Cremin, of Meyrick Avenue, Luton, had two similar public order convictions from 2007 and 2008, and is on police bail having been arrested last month on suspicion of violent disorder following crowd trouble at Luton’s play-off game with York City.

Trudi Yeatman, defending Denton, said: “You have to question the wisdom of separating two sections of albeit grown men by netting. These were very low-level incidents. No-one is saying anything has been thrown.”

Both men were given three-year football banning orders and ordered to pay a total of £340 each, including costs.

l Two other Oxford United fans appealed against their banning orders at the city’s crown court on Friday.

Joseph Nicholls, 30, of Vineyard, Abingdon, had his conviction for entering the field of play during Oxford’s home game with Northwich Victoria in April 2009 overturned, and his three-year banning order scrapped.

Paul Woodburn, 42, of Brize Norton Road, Minster Lovell, was unsuccessful in his appeal for the same conviction and was told to pay £520 costs. His three-year ban remains in place.