A man has been accused of flying a drone over a football match which saw players being carried off the pitch.
Lewis Franks, 27, is alleged to have flown a drone over Chesterfield FC’s Technic Stadium in Derbyshire at 5.20pm on 7 May, during the club’s game against Bromley in the National League play-off semi-finals.
Derbyshire Police said on Wednesday that the referee, Scott Simpson, kept the players off the pitch for several minutes in line with safety protocols before the device was seen on the ground.
Franks, of Allsops Place, Chesterfield, will appear at South Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court in Derby on 8 June, charged with flying a drone above gatherings of people, flying beyond visual line of sight, failing to register as a drone operator and has been accused of failing. Display an operator ID on the drone to be used by the remote pilot.
