07 November 2023 , 14:51
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A football fan has been banned from attending all matches for three years after making a racist gesture at Tottenham captain Son Heung-min.
Robert Garland, 44, made the gesture during the clash with Crystal Palace at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in May last season when Son was substituted in the closing stages.
He pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment in court earlier this year and was handed a fine and given ordered to carry out community service.
But prosecutors pushed for a banning order to be added to Garland's sentence and the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed he will not be able to attend any matches for three years. He will also have to surrender his passport during international matches.
The incident was shared widely on social media after being picked up during Spurs' 1-0 win over Palace, who themselves issued a club ban. Son told police that he did “nothing to be targeted with this horrible racist and discriminatory behaviour”.
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The CPS issued a stark warning to any fans who show discriminatory behaviour, with Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Douglas Mackay insisting: "It has a massive impact on the game, the players and fans.
“Not only will the CPS look to prosecute anyone making vile gestures or actions, we will ask courts to ban them from the sport they say they love.
Son in action against Palace last season“Anyone committing offences this season runs the risk of being banned from seeing their national team play in Euro 2024 as well as travelling abroad during that time, limiting summer holiday plans.”
Son was named Tottenham captain earlier this season by new boss Ange Postecoglou and has played a key role in his side's impressive start to the season.
Spurs suffered their first defeat of the campaign in a frantic London derby with Chelsea on Monday night which saw two red cards and five disallowed goals, before the Blues eventually won 4-1.
Postecoglou was left frustrated by the use of VAR during the game, which featured several lengthy delays. He admitted: "I don't like it, it is the way the game is going.
“Some of it is self inflicted because if we come out every week complaining about decision that is what will happen, every decision gets forensically checked and we will be sitting around for a long time in every game trying to figure out what is going on.