Two men deny burgling Tottenham stadium during Beyonce concert

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Two men have denied charges of burgling Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the night Beyoncé played to a sell-out crowd.

Alirza Dag and Murat Kodalakoglu, both 23, are accused of accessing a VIP rooftop terrace at the north London venue.

The pair also face charges of causing £1,700 worth of damage to an electronic keypad used to gain entry to the exclusive terrace.

At Wood Green Crown Court on Thursday, Dag admitted criminal damage to the door access control panel, while his co-defendant pleaded not guilty to the same charge.

Defence lawyers Tetevi Davie and Anisa Kebbati, representing Dag and Kodalakoglu respectively, stated that their clients had no intention to steal in relation to the burglary allegations. Ms Kebbati added: "(Kodalakoglu) denies any intent or involvement in criminal damage."

Their trial has been scheduled for 18 February 2030. Due to the significant time until the hearing, Judge Daniel Fugallo imposed a sole bail condition: that they inform their solicitors within seven days of any change to their address or contact number.

The prosecution had previously claimed at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court that the two men broke in "with intent to steal".

The incident occurred on 16 June last year, during the final night of six sold-out shows at the Spurs ground for Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter world tour.

Dag, from Tottenham, and Kodalakoglu, from Chelmsford, are alleged to have burgled Lilywhite House, which houses administration offices at the £1 billion stadium.

They are accused of cutting wires on the electronic access panel to gain entry to a balcony terrace typically reserved for senior club executives.

Beyonce also performed a series of concerts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2023.

The pop star headed over to the English capital to play hits from her Renaissance album at the venue that officially opened in 2019.

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