A Nottingham Forest supporter from England has been barred from attending any soccer matches across the UK after he was spotted hurling racial insults at Tottenham Hotspur‘s Son Heung Min and other fans.
The man’s appalling behavior was brought to light when police tracked down the holder of the season ticket for the seat he occupied. Witnesses reported that he “repeatedly shouted racial slurs” at opposing supporters before directing his vile comments towards Son. Despite pleas from nearby fans to cease his offensive tirade, he continued his abuse throughout the game, even becoming hostile towards those who asked him to stop.
The man has been charged with two counts of racially aggravated disorderly conduct. He has since admitted to the charges and been fined a total of £1,654 GBP. He has also been handed a three-year-long ban from all soccer stadiums in the UK. Additionally, he was ordered to pay £85 in legal costs and a victim surcharge of £669.
A spokesperson for the local police has condemned the supporter’s actions and emphasized that such behavior is intolerable in football. The District Crown Prosecutor, Marianne Connally, also revealed that the man had arrived at the stadium drunk when speaking to Nottingham Post.
His abhorrent behavior has no place in football. He turned up to the game drunk and, for reasons best known to him, decided to shout racist abuse at opposition fans and a player for a sustained period.
He will now be banned from every football ground in the country and unable to travel abroad when international games are happening. It is very sad to hear witnesses say that they felt forced to leave the ground because of his behavior. I am grateful to those supporters who came forward to report this incident.
I hope that the knowledge that we have been able to identify him and ensure he will not be back to repeat this disgusting behavior will encourage them to continue to watch the game and the club they love.
— Marianne Connally
This is, unfortunately, not the first or second time Son has faced racial abuse during a Premier League match. It remains to be seen whether the English Football Association will take any further measures to avoid it from happening again.
Source: Nottingham Post
