
LONDON (AFP) - A Tottenham fan was fined on Tuesday (Dec 18) for throwing a banana skin at Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after a court ruled it was a targeted incident with a "racial element".
Averof Panteli admitted hurling the item onto the pitch at the Emirates Stadium after the Gabon striker scored and celebrated in front of Spurs' travelling support on Dec 2.
The 57-year-old van driver said he threw the banana skin in a "spur of the moment" action but strongly denied there was any racist intent, a magistrates' court in London heard.
But magistrate Mervyn Mandell said: "We find it was a targeted gesture to throw a banana skin after a goal was scored by a black player. We have in the circumstances found the racial element was there."
Panteli was handed a four-year football banning order after pleading guilty to throwing a missile and was also fined £500 (S$800).
Leila Rasool, mitigating, said Panteli had been going to Tottenham games for 50 years without incident and was of "exemplary character" but had since been banned for life by the club.
She told the court: "It was a spur of the moment thing. He picked up the closest article to him and that happened to be a banana skin.
"He realised the grave error he had made. He has not been charged for any racially aggravated public order offence."
After the pulsating 4-2 derby win, Premier League joint topscorer Aubameyang posted a picture of himself on social media with the caption: "whysmandoingthis?" accompanied by a banana emoji.
The incident triggered a fresh debate about racism in football, with former Arsenal striker-turned-pundit Ian Wright saying it had "embarrassed" the Premier League.
Raheem Sterling was subsequently subjected to alleged racial abuse during Manchester City's defeat at Chelsea - the Stamford Bridge club banned four supporters pending an investigation.
Chelsea also condemned anti-Semitic chanting from some of their fans during last week's Europa League tie with Vidi in Budapest.
The Premier League called on supporters to back their teams in the right way and for fans to report any abuse.

Jan Poulsen occupies the position of Chief Executive Officer for thinkstep AG and Sales Director at Lyngsoe Systems A. In the past Mr. Poulsen was President of Luca, Inc. He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Aarhus.
Wow air issue 1 13 by WOW_air - Issuu

Cardiff claim they are shocked by a report that the pilot in the plane crash that killed Emiliano Sala was not qualified to fly at night. The Premier League club said they remain "deeply concerned" that the pilot David Ibbotson and those who arranged the flight "seemingly completely disregarded the rules of flying and put Mr Sala's life in such danger".
Cardiff 'Shocked' by Sala Pilot Report - News18

Always have faith in you and have courage to win any challenge that comes your way. Congratulation. 6). It is the journey you start today and you have a long way to go to win many hurdles. Many achievements and success are waiting for you to be begged, so keep your aim high and make a plan to fly. Congratulation.
Delhi Dynamos seek winning start at home against Pune City

Huddersfield reduced the deficit to 2-1 after the restart as midfielder Philip Billing's swerving effort from distance flew past Southampton goalkeeper McCarthy, who appeared to be unsighted by a
Southampton power past struggling Huddersfield Town

Cristiano Ronaldo could miss the first leg of Juventus' Champions League clash with Ajax through injury, coach Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed. While on international duty with Portugal, he
Ronaldo 'risks missing' Champions League quarters - Daily Nation

Manchester City could be hit with a transfer ban - report A transfer ban for the Premier League champions would come less than a month after Chelsea were hit with the same sanction.
Man City could get transfer ban: report - theworldnews.net

Football: Molde owners will support me if I stay at Manchester United, says temp boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (REUTERS) - Manchester United caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said the owners of Norwegian club Molde sent him to Old Trafford with their blessing and asked him to try to turn his temporary stint at the club into a permanent role.
Football news - Solskjaer: Molde owners will support me if I

The Chelsea coach is reportedly poised to succeed Massimiliano Allegri and a potential switch to Turin could see the Italian champions raid his former club Napoli for star defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
Tottenham Hotspur poised to receive £8.5m from Boris Johnson

We like to believe that having a huge cushion of savings, or a locked-in job, will ensure us an easy experience, but that's not necessarily true. Sometimes, it's the luck of the draw, and we're "meant" to experience some challenges. Sometimes we're meant, when we take the leap, not to fall but to fly.And sometimes maybe it's both.
5 Tips for Starting a Business Abroad - Entrepreneur

Football: Usual suspects in the frame for expanded Asian Cup South Korean national footballers training in Abu Dhabi on Dec 30, 2018, ahead of the 2019 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup
Soccer: Usual suspects in the frame at expanded Asian Cup

Follow radio & live text coverage as Liverpool host Tottenham in the Premier League, after Chelsea beat Cardiff. back Chelsea to win on Sunday, though. deeply sabotaging hopes of a top
BBC Sport pundit gives his prediction for Cardiff v Chelsea FC

Rio de Janeiro: Chelsea's Willian will replace Neymar in Brazil's Copa America squad, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on Friday, after the world's most expensive player was sidelined by injury.
Willian to replace Neymar in Brazil's Copa America squad
0 comments:
Post a Comment