An Essex police officer has been dismissed after admitting to chanting offensive messages towards Liverpool fans during a Premier League match at Anfield last year. Sergeant Tyler Coppin, 39, was found to have breached professional conduct following his involvement in the incident at the October game between Liverpool and Chelsea.
Coppin was caught chanting “tragedy chants” aimed at Liverpool supporters during the match. The term refers to offensive songs or gestures that reference past disasters or accidents involving football fans or players. Stewards at the game witnessed Coppin’s behaviour, and he was promptly removed from the stands and arrested.
During a misconduct hearing, chaired by Essex police chief constable Ben-Julian Harrington, it was determined that Coppin’s actions amounted to a breach of several professional standards, including honesty and integrity, respect, and discreditable conduct. As a result, Coppin was dismissed from his position in Essex Police without notice and was placed on the College of Policing barred list.
The incident occurred during the Liverpool-Chelsea match at Anfield in October 2024. Coppin had previously had an unblemished career in policing, but his actions during the game were deemed to have seriously undermined public trust and confidence in the police service.
In December 2024, Coppin pleaded guilty to the public order offence and was handed a three-year football banning order, along with a fine of £645. He was convicted by Merseyside Police, who highlighted the serious nature of the incident. Chief Constable Harrington stated that while Coppin showed remorse, his actions could not go unpunished. “His behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated in policing,” he said.
Merseyside Police’s Ch Insp Kevin Chatterton added that there is no place for such behaviour in football. “We will take action and identify those who commit hate crime in any form, including unacceptable chanting which causes distress to others,” he said.
Chelsea FC also condemned such behaviour, reinforcing that “hateful chanting has no place in football.” This incident follows similar cases, including the recent banning orders handed to three Arsenal fans for making tragedy-related chants during a match against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
The dismissal of Sergeant Coppin serves as a strong reminder that inappropriate conduct, whether on or off duty, will not be tolerated, particularly for those in positions of trust.
