[UK] Potters fan hit with ban for monkey taunts
Tuesday 20 Nov 2012
Stoke City fan Terence Jones has been hit with a three-year football banning order after shouting racist monkey taunts at Premier League star Mario Balotelli.
The 36-year-old repeatedly racially abused Balotelli over the course of 40 minutes during September's Britannia Stadium clash against Manchester City.
Jones – who had drunk two pints and was at the game with his two children – shouted 'monkey' and 'you're dirty, get a bath' towards Balotelli.
Leanne Jones, prosecuting, told North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court yesterday: "The racial chants started about 15 minutes into the game, he was shouting 'monkey' and 'black *******' believed to be aimed at Mario Balotelli.
"He was also heard shouting 'where's your mother?' a reference to the footballer being adopted. This lasted about 40 minutes until, about five minutes into the second half, the defendant was arrested."
Jones had been a season ticket holder for two years, but this has now been seized.
Simon Davies, mitigating, said: "This offence is out of character. Mr Jones has been a season ticket holder for the last two years but prior to that he had been to many games and is even a member of the Potters Foundation Club.
"He had been at the game and had been watching the game when the chanting started around him.
"He accepts he became involved in the chants and he feels totally embarrassed by what he said. He is not a man who is racist and wished he had not said what he did, but unfortunately he cannot turn back time."
The court heard Jones, who was sitting in the Q-railing Stand, has not been to the Britannia Stadium since the match on September 15.
Jones, of Worth Close, Meir Hay, who admitted engaging in and taking part in chanting of a racist nature, was also fined £370 and ordered to pay £85 costs.
Magistrate Sue Allcock said: "This was a serious offence, especially because you had your children with you and there were other children there at the time."
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Luther Blissett
"We live in a society now where there are equal opportunities; education is the key.”
Luther Blissett, former Watford and England striker