Extra time for England dressing room fan
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Your support makes all the difference.A supporter accused of trespassing after he entered England's dressing room must wait until next week at the earliest to hear his fate, he learned today.
Pavlos Joseph, 32, from Crystal Palace, south east London, appeared at a special World Cup court in Cape Town this morning where his case was adjourned until Wednesday.
His solicitor Craig Webster requested the adjournment because his defence team is still awaiting CCTV footage from the stadium on the night of England's 0-0 draw against Algeria.
At a previous hearing, Joseph was banned from attending any more World Cup matches, his passport was seized and he was released on 500 rand (£44) bail.
Mr Webster asked magistrate Aziz Hamied to postpone the case until next Wednesday, when he expects to be in possession of the footage.
Mr Hamied said: "We will adjourn the matter until June 30, next Wednesday, which will either be for the representation, which if successful will be the end of the matter. Alternatively, we will be at trial."
Joseph was arrested after the incident at the Green Point stadium in Cape Town.
He said later he was looking for a toilet after the match when a security guard sent him in the direction of the players' tunnel.
After taking a wrong turn, he found himself in the changing room where he says he told David Beckham: "David, we've spent a lot of money getting here. This is a disgrace. What are you going to do about it?"
The incident, which happened minutes after Princes William and Harry left, prompted the Football Association (FA) to make an official complaint to World Cup organiser Fifa.
A spokeswoman for the UK policing team in South Africa has said a football banning order would not be pursued because the incident was not linked to violent behaviour.
Joseph, a life-long England and Manchester United supporter, told the Sunday Mirror that when Beckham asked him who he was, he responded: "I'm Pavlos and I actually need the toilet."
He said he then addressed the players, who were sitting on benches with towels around their waists.
"I told them 'That was woeful and not good enough'. The room was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. The players' chins were on their chests - they looked pretty ashamed."
The story is reminiscent of the "Smithy" sketch performed by James Corden, in which the comedian confronts the players to psyche them up.
Joseph, surrounded by photographers, declined to make a statement upon leaving court.
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