After attempting to enter the recent derby against Southampton as stewards, two Portsmouth fans were given three-year bans.

Prior to the September match, the south coast rivals had not faced each other in the league since 2012, so supporters of both teams were looking forward to it.

As a result, there would have been fierce competition for tickets, especially among Pompey fans who were itching to sit in the away end.

Portsmouth supporters who attempted to enter the Southampton game covertly were banned.

However, it seems that two of their supporters went too far in that regard, as Sky Sports reported that Dale and Kane Green attempted to enter St. Mary’s Stadium without tickets.

It was said that the brothers were able to approach the field prior to kickoff while wearing hi-vis jackets and radio equipment in an attempt to fool security personnel into thinking they were stewards.

But when security and police realized they lacked the proper accreditation, they were detained, and the two were given a three-year ban and a £700 fine.

Fans across began discussing that punishment, with one fan believing it was unjust to bar the fans for risking their lives to attend the major game.

The rivalry between Portsmouth and Southampton is one of the most intense in the nation.

Given the size of the South Coast Derby and the fact that it is undoubtedly one of the most competitive in the nation, football fans will feel pity for this prohibition.

Given that the two teams had not faced one another in the league for more than ten years, there was a lot of anticipation for the match, thus it should come as no surprise that it sold out swiftly.

As was already noted, the game ended up being incredibly forgettable, and both clubs likely realized how crucial it was to win in order to save their bragging rights. But considering the distance and the disparity in resources, it’s reasonable to argue that Portsmouth was at a stronger position.

The meeting at Fratton Park, scheduled for January 25, will now be the focus of attention. Even if there is still a lot more football to play until then, the fans will already be thinking about it, and it looks like it will be a big game for both of them.

Even though Saints’ position has improved due to back-to-back wins, Pompey is currently languishing in 20th place and is underperforming in comparison to its preseason hopes. However, it will be interesting to watch how the table looks when the game is played.