Sebastien Bassong, a former defender for Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, and Norwich City, has been fined for evading a £7 Tube fare by using a DLR driver pass that did not belong to him. The 40-year-old Frenchman was caught at St Paul’s Underground station in May when a Transport for London (TfL) officer observed him following a friend through the ticket barriers, a common method for fare evasion.
Court documents revealed that the Oyster card Bassong was using belonged to the ex-girlfriend of the friend he was with, who was a DLR driver. The use of this pass was unauthorized and illegal, as it was intended solely for the cardholder.
During the incident, Bassong reportedly explained that he was experiencing financial difficulties and unemployment following a divorce. While these circumstances were acknowledged, they did not excuse the illegal use of the travelcard and fare evasion.
Appearing at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on October 30, Bassong did not enter a plea. The case was handled through a Single Justice Procedure hearing. Magistrate Graham Burbage ordered Bassong to pay the £7 fare, a £220 fine, £250 in prosecution costs, and an £88 victim surcharge.
An TfL revenue control officer, Adebukola Anifowose, stated that she saw Bassong “pretend to tap an Oystercard enclosed in a white wallet before tailgating through the wide-aisle gate behind another male,” confirming the deliberate nature of the fare evasion.
Bassong, who was an £8 million signing for Tottenham in 2009, had a notable career as a defender in the Premier League. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to public transport fare regulations, as TfL actively monitors stations to prevent evasion. The use of someone else’s travel pass, particularly an employee pass, carries significant legal consequences.
The case highlights broader societal issues like financial hardship but underscores that fare evasion is a serious offense with legal repercussions for everyone, regardless of their background. For football fans, it’s a reminder that former professional athletes must also comply with everyday laws.
