A football fan banned from travelling abroad for games was filmed in the Ukraine during Euro 2012 after telling police he was visiting his girlfriend’s sick father in Germany.
Manchester United supporter Pele Duncan was given back his passport in June so he could fly to Berlin.
But Preston Magistrates’ Court heard that three days later the 26-year-old was seen partying with England fans in Kiev during the European Championships.
Elliott Taylforth, prosecuting, said Duncan, of Liverpool Old Road, Much Hoole, near Preston, was handed a football banning order in November 2010 after he was thrown out of Old Trafford for drinking alcohol in sight of the pitch.
Under the terms of the three-year order he must give his passport to the police whenever Manchester United or England play abroad.
After surrendering his passport in June, Duncan applied for an exemption, saying his girlfriend’s father, who lives in Berlin, was seriously ill.
Police accepted the request and Duncan flew to Germany, but he was then caught on camera in the Ukraine by British police officers.
Mr Taylforth said: “You may accept his explanation that he didn’t like his mother-in-law and decided to meet up with some friends in Kiev.
“You may think his application was a bit of a scam.”
Duncan was previously given a 12-month conditional discharge for breaching his order in March last year.
Mr Taylforth said: “This is the second time he has been up for a breach. It perhaps indicates his attitude towards his banning order.”
Duncan admitted failing to comply with his order between June 15 and June 25, and a charge of failing to hand in his passport on or before August 8, ahead of a friendly game between Manchester United and Barcelona in Sweden, when he returned from a holiday.
James Towey, defending, said his client received the banning order after buying a beer at half-time during a match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers and taking it back to his seat.
He said Duncan was “dealt with severely” for the offence.
Mr Towey said: “We’re not dealing with one of United’s hooligan factions - far from it.”
He said following a disagreement with his girlfriend’s mother in Berlin, Duncan was asked by her brother to join his group of friends and return to England via the Ukraine.
The court heard while in Kiev, Duncan gave a false name to a British policeman.
Mr Towey said: “He said ‘I didn’t want to be arrested and thrown in a Ukraine jail’.
He added that Duncan, who is the sole carer of a five-year-old son, knew he had been “stupid” and wanted to express his “sorrow and remorse.”
He said: “He is a young man who realises he has made a very, very grave error.”
Magistrates adjourned the case until Tuesday, September 18 for a pre-sentence report.
Magistrate Barbara Bennett said: “We really feel that this is so serious that we have to look at all the options and that the custody threshold has been crossed.
“Your record of failing to comply with court orders is very poor. We are not happy.”
Duncan, who also has links to Preston North End, was filmed inside the Olympic Stadium in Kiev during England’s 0-0 draw with Italy in a quarter final tie, which England lost on penalties.
Speaking after the case, PC Paul Elliott from the Force Intelligence Unit said: “Pele Duncan has, for reasons known only to him, decided to run the risk of attending the tournament thinking he wouldn’t be spotted.
“Hopefully today serves as a warning to other people who are subjected to a football banning order that British police officers travel to all international fixtures no matter where in the world and if you breach the ban you will be dealt with and put through the courts.
“As a force, Lancashire will continue to crackdown on those people who breach their banning orders and also those who cause problems at football grounds.
“More than a million people watch football in Lancashire every season and we will not let a small minority ruin what should be a family occasion.
“People are subjected to banning orders because they have caused problems in the past and we will continue to work with the authorities to make sure that the grounds in Lancashire are safe and friendly environments that can be enjoyed by all the family.”