England fan detained at World Cup final over humorous misunderstanding
England supporter Andy Milne was detained by police outside the World Cup final after security became suspicious of an unexpected item in his possession, reports BritPanorama.
Milne, a long-time fan known for his presence at major tournaments, traveled to the United States to attend the final between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Instead of entering the stadium smoothly, he found himself escorted away by police due to a misunderstanding involving a ticket he sought to keep as a souvenir.
Speaking on The Pezzadox Show, Milne shared that he has collected tickets from past World Cup finals and was intent on collecting one from this match, despite FIFA’s shift to digital tickets. To secure a physical ticket, he devised a strategy by claiming he lost his phone at a ticket resolution centre, which resulted in receiving a paper ticket.
As he entered the screening area with the ticket tucked inside a paperback novel, security measures were notably heightened with the presence of then-US President Donald Trump. Milne recalled placing the book in the screening area when a police officer asked about it.
According to Milne, he explained, “It’s a book,” only for the officer to instruct the security personnel to search it. Upon inspection, the officer discovered the book’s title, “A Beginner’s Guide To Breaking And Entering,” triggering an alarmed reaction from the police. Milne was informed, “Sir, you are being detained!”
The situation escalated quickly as officers prohibited him from touching the book. After nearly 15 minutes, a senior officer intervened. Milne reported that the senior officer looked at the book and remarked, “F***ing idiots,” before apologizing and allowing Milne to enter the stadium.
Milne eventually made it inside to witness Spain lift the trophy after a 1-0 victory, heightened by Ferran Torres’ extra-time goal. This incident adds to Milne’s storied fan history, which includes selling his second home in Cheshire to finance his World Cup excursions.
