Now we’ve heard it all. Kevin Ashley, the billionaire owner of EPL’s Newcastle Magpies, might be in trouble with the law because he was drinking a beer during his team’s 3-0 defeat at Arsenal this past weekend. Apparently the league has a law that prohibits drinking a beer “in view of the football pitch,” which translated into American English, means that there are probably a lot of soccer fans drinking beer in the stadium bathrooms or doing kegstands next to the concession stands. But hey, at least he didn’t do any real damage.

In accordance with Premier League licensing laws, alcohol is strictly prohibited in view of the pitch but Ashley was clearly seen depositing the beer before leaving five minutes before the end of the match, with Kevin Keegan’s side heading for defeat.

Had Police spotted the incident at the time, Ashley, 45, could have been ejected from the stadium and cautioned for his behaviour. Protesting Ashley’s innocence, however, Newcastle issued a statement, saying: “Mike was offered a drink which he thought was non-alcoholic so he took it in good faith.”

Yeah, and if you believe that, we have a team in Manchester we want to sell you.

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley faces possible police action over pint [Daily Telegraph]
Image [Daily Telegraph]