Loyalty = free pass to be a racist

[Eddie Notgetinya]

Direct lift from local paper:

”A Norwich City supporter who has been attending matches at Carrow Road for 60 years has escaped a football banning order despite making a racist comment towards an opposition player.”

Disgrace.

[JP Hampton]

Yeah totally agree. You either have a policy that you act on or you don’t. As you say not much of a deterrent is it. You can’t be soft or ambiguous about these things. It’s a straightforward violation. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

The Club can still ban him, FBOs are handed by the Courts however.

I'd be interested to see the reasoning etc for this.

[phantom]

8 minutes ago, Eddie Notgetinya said:

Direct lift from local paper:

”A Norwich City supporter who has been attending matches at Carrow Road for 60 years has escaped a football banning order despite making a racist comment towards an opposition player.”

Disgrace.

Crazy outcome, It would 100% have been a different outcome in our region

Below is the full article:

A Norwich City supporter who has been attending matches at Carrow Road for 60 years has escaped a football banning order despite making a racist comment towards an opposition player.

David Harper, 73, referred to Leicester City captain Hamza Choudhury, who is of mixed Bengali and Caribbean descent, by his skin colour after getting frustrated he was taking too long to leave the pitch when he was substituted.

His shout was overheard by an off duty police officer and another supporter who reported it to stewards during the match on September 20 last year.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told the Leicester right back was taken off by the away side in the 78th minute of the 2-0 Norwich defeat when the score line was still 1-0. 

Sarah Fiddy, prosecuting, said: “During the substitution he became frustrated that the player was in his view not leaving the pitch quick enough. 

“When he was later interviewed by police he admitted making the comment but attempted to play it down.”

Harper, who has been a season ticket holder since they were first introduced, attended the next home match against Birmingham but was escorted out after being recognised by stewards, the court heard. 

He was subsequently banned by the club for three years but this was later reduced to three months after he attended a Kick It Out anti-racism education course.

Harper, of Hemblington, near Blofield, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment. 

James Landalls, mitigating, said he had made the racist remark once in “the atmosphere of a charged football match” and that the player would not have heard it as Harper was sitting in the upper tier of the stand.

“He has done everything in his power to put things right. I would differentiate this case from someone who is repeatedly intent on causing racist offence,” he said.

Magistrates fined him £111 and ordered he pay costs of £149 but refused a prosecution application for a football banning order.

“We feel you have shown genuine remorse and are of previous good character and have attended matches for 60 years without incident,” they told him.

TAKEN FROM:  Norwich City fan's racist abuse at Leicester City player | Norwich Evening News (eveningnews24.co.uk)

[Keepers Ball]

That person has served their punishment. Named and shamed.

I'd bet my house, they have learnt a lesson.

Leave it at that.

[Mr Popodopolous]

8 minutes ago, phantom said:

Crazy outcome, It would 100% have been a different outcome in our region

Below is the full article:

A Norwich City supporter who has been attending matches at Carrow Road for 60 years has escaped a football banning order despite making a racist comment towards an opposition player.

David Harper, 73, referred to Leicester City captain Hamza Choudhury, who is of mixed Bengali and Caribbean descent, by his skin colour after getting frustrated he was taking too long to leave the pitch when he was substituted.

His shout was overheard by an off duty police officer and another supporter who reported it to stewards during the match on September 20 last year.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told the Leicester right back was taken off by the away side in the 78th minute of the 2-0 Norwich defeat when the score line was still 1-0. 

Sarah Fiddy, prosecuting, said: “During the substitution he became frustrated that the player was in his view not leaving the pitch quick enough. 

“When he was later interviewed by police he admitted making the comment but attempted to play it down.”

Harper, who has been a season ticket holder since they were first introduced, attended the next home match against Birmingham but was escorted out after being recognised by stewards, the court heard. 

He was subsequently banned by the club for three years but this was later reduced to three months after he attended a Kick It Out anti-racism education course.

Harper, of Hemblington, near Blofield, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment. 

James Landalls, mitigating, said he had made the racist remark once in “the atmosphere of a charged football match” and that the player would not have heard it as Harper was sitting in the upper tier of the stand.

“He has done everything in his power to put things right. I would differentiate this case from someone who is repeatedly intent on causing racist offence,” he said.

Magistrates fined him £111 and ordered he pay costs of £149 but refused a prosecution application for a football banning order.

“We feel you have shown genuine remorse and are of previous good character and have attended matches for 60 years without incident,” they told him.

TAKEN FROM:  Norwich City fan's racist abuse at Leicester City player | Norwich Evening News (eveningnews24.co.uk)

I dunno I think there was one 5 years ago v Wolves (in the Cup) where a Banning Order wasn't handed down however yes I do tend to agree.

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-city-fan-avoids-ban-2701586

Albeit I'm sure someone did get banned for throwing an empty plastic bottle or a plastic cup that same year.

Down to the Magistrate on the day?

Edited February 23 by Mr Popodopolous

[TV Tom]

About a year ago a City fan of 60 years was banned for three years for shouting abuse at a player at AG

[Davefevs]

5 minutes ago, TV Tom said:

About a year ago a City fan of 60 years was banned for three years for shouting abuse at a player at AG

Is that why SL doesn’t attend these days!

[TV Tom]

4 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Is that why SL doesn’t attend these days!

Haha, i said a player not a manager !!! 

[Mr Popodopolous]

12 minutes ago, TV Tom said:

About a year ago a City fan of 60 years was banned for three years for shouting abuse at a player at AG

Was it a Club Ban or an FBO though?

[TV Tom]

1 hour ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Was it a Club Ban or an FBO though?

Banned by the club in the first instance then found guilty in court a year later, by the time the ban is complete it would be four years, still claims his innocence now 

[Mr Popodopolous]

Just now, TV Tom said:

Banned by the club in the first instance then found guilty in court a year later, by the time the ban is complete it would be four years, still claims his innocence now 

Interesting. Albeit there was one in 2019 who was or appears to have been let off in court.

Could depend somewhat on the Magistrate on the Day.

Yeah clubs will tend to ban in the first instance, perhaps pending a later verdict.

[TV Tom]

7 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Interesting. Albeit there was one in 2019 who was or appears to have been let off in court.

Could depend somewhat on the Magistrate on the Day.

Yeah clubs will tend to ban in the first instance, perhaps pending a later verdict.

That's exactly what happened, everyone was amazed he got a guilty verdict with such little evidence, basically one mans word against several others who said he didn't say anything

[Mr Popodopolous]

10 minutes ago, TV Tom said:

That's exactly what happened, everyone was amazed he got a guilty verdict with such little evidence, basically one mans word against several others who said he didn't say anything

Different case to the one I posted earlier I assume.

[TV Tom]

16 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Different case to the one I posted earlier I assume.

Yes, different case

[Mr Popodopolous]

7 minutes ago, TV Tom said:

Yes, different case

Seen a strange that and I'm not casting aspersions more the randomness of it all, strange that 3 cases culd get such different verdicts.

One in Norfolk, one in 2019, one you mention.

[TV Tom]

6 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Seen a strange that and I'm not casting aspersions more the randomness of it all, strange that 3 cases culd get such different verdicts.

One in Norfolk, one in 2019, one you mention.

Probably all depends on the mood of the magistrate, the punishment definitely varies throughout the country as well, pretty strict down here, those over-blown custodial sentences for the hand-bags against Swansea a couple of years ago is proof of that 

[Mr Popodopolous]

3 minutes ago, TV Tom said:

Probably all depends on the mood of the magistrate, the punishment definitely varies throughout the country as well, pretty strict down here, those over-blown custodial sentences for the hand-bags against Swansea a couple of years ago is proof of that 

Albeit the 2019 one but yes do tend to agree, big variations it seems depending on magistrate, region etc. Probably shouldn't be.

[MarcusX]

3 hours ago, Eddie Notgetinya said:

Direct lift from local paper:

”A Norwich City supporter who has been attending matches at Carrow Road for 60 years has escaped a football banning order despite making a racist comment towards an opposition player.”

Disgrace.

Received a 3 year ban by the club, later reduced to 3 months after attending a course so not quiet "free pass". Also not so much loyalty but "good behaviour" in those 60 years.

Agree though it's bizarre and not inline with other prosecutions. Also according to the article "played it down" when being interviewed, so to later say they showed genuine remorse seems a stretch. Sorry they got caught and banned maybe?

 

[cidered abroad]

Disgusting. Longevity of support for the football club and elderly age are not reasons to avoid a ban on attending pro football matches.

[MarcusX]

11 minutes ago, cidered abroad said:

Disgusting. Longevity of support for the football club and elderly age are not reasons to avoid a ban on attending pro football matches.

Neither are, the OP has been disengenuois with the title of the thread.

 

[Leveller]

Free pass? He’s been taken to court, prosecuted and pleaded guilty, leading to fine & costs of £260, plus a ban by the club and attending a course to get that reduced. Now has a criminal record.

Not exactly free. Seems commensurate. 

[TV Tom]

1 minute ago, Leveller said:

Free pass? He’s been taken to court, prosecuted and pleaded guilty, leading to fine & costs of £260, plus a ban by the club and attending a course to get that reduced. Now has a criminal record.

Not exactly free. Seems commensurate. 

Well said

[JP Hampton]

4 hours ago, Leveller said:

Free pass? He’s been taken to court, prosecuted and pleaded guilty, leading to fine & costs of £260, plus a ban by the club and attending a course to get that reduced. Now has a criminal record.

Not exactly free. Seems commensurate. 

Yes reading the actual newspaper article sheds more light on the subject. 

[W-S-M Seagull]

5 hours ago, TV Tom said:

That's exactly what happened, everyone was amazed he got a guilty verdict with such little evidence, basically one mans word against several others who said he didn't say anything

We're the several others known to the perpetrator and the other person wasnt? 

[RED4LIFE]

Without getting into the whole racism argument (which I find abhorrent btw), I am good mates with a City fan who was banned from all football matches for 3 years by the club/courts and also had to hand his passport whenever England played.

His offence was for standing up in, what was then, the Grandstand and telling the Millwall fans who had been giving it loads all game to, "**** off you cockney c*nts".

A steward decided he was inciting violence, threw him out and reported him to the Old Bill who immediately arrested him, took him to the station and chatged him. It went to court and he hence got the above ban and a criminal record.

The whole point of the above post is only to show that when it comes to incidents involving football fans, things can be completely blown out of all proportion.

Again, I'm not, and wouldn't ever condone racism against anybody, but I do think if the bloke who got a very light punishment for this did it anywhere but in/near a football ground, it wouldn't have ever been reported in the press.

Let's face it, as footy fans we have to put up with being treated as scum. Whether that's by the Old Bill or the press it makes no difference.

 

Edit: Before anybody posts the usual, if it wasn't for the hooligans years ago, this wouldn't be happening argument, do you honestly believe that a phenomenon that happened 30/40 years ago is relevant today is right?

To tar every football fan with that brush in 2024 is ludicrous. We all know that what was prevalent back then has been marginalised now and the vast majority of fans are being subjected to draconian situations ONLY because it makes the Old Bill's lives easier, not because of the potential of serious disorder.

Edited February 23 by RED4LIFE

[exAtyeoMax]

5 hours ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

We're the several others known to the perpetrator and the other person wasnt? 

That can play out two ways though. One, they could be lying and sticking up for their mate, or two, they honestly didn’t hear him say anything untoward. 

[Out of his pie crust]

10 hours ago, RED4LIFE said:

Without getting into the whole racism argument (which I find abhorrent btw), I am good mates with a City fan who was banned from all football matches for 3 years by the club/courts and also had to hand his passport whenever England played.

His offence was for standing up in, what was then, the Grandstand and telling the Millwall fans who had been giving it loads all game to, "**** off you cockney c*nts".

A steward decided he was inciting violence, threw him out and reported him to the Old Bill who immediately arrested him, took him to the station and chatged him. It went to court and he hence got the above ban and a criminal record.

The whole point of the above post is only to show that when it comes to incidents involving football fans, things can be completely blown out of all proportion.

Again, I'm not, and wouldn't ever condone racism against anybody, but I do think if the bloke who got a very light punishment for this did it anywhere but in/near a football ground, it wouldn't have ever been reported in the press.

Let's face it, as footy fans we have to put up with being treated as scum. Whether that's by the Old Bill or the press it makes no difference.

 

Edit: Before anybody posts the usual, if it wasn't for the hooligans years ago, this wouldn't be happening argument, do you honestly believe that a phenomenon that happened 30/40 years ago is relevant today is right?

To tar every football fan with that brush in 2024 is ludicrous. We all know that what was prevalent back then has been marginalised now and the vast majority of fans are being subjected to draconian situations ONLY because it makes the Old Bill's lives easier, not because of the potential of serious disorder.

Disgrace. Millwall aren’t cockneys. Lock that man up and throw away the key

Edited February 24 by Out of his pie crust

[Leveller]

1 hour ago, Out of his pie crust said:

Disgrace. Millwall aren’t cockneys. Lock that man up and throw away the key

To be fair, if you’re from Millwall (the area, on the Isle of Dogs, where the football club originated) then you are a cockney. But not if you’re from Bermondsey where the club moved about 1910.

[Old School B block]

Well she’s Getting on a bit.