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A fan who made a monkey gesture when an opposing striker scored
against his Premier League team has been handed a three-year football
banning order.
Liam Jones, 22, was given an 18-month conditional
discharge after he admitted causing racially aggravated harassment,
alarm or distress while watching his team Sunderland lose to West Brom
at the Stadium of Light in November.
Sunderland lost
the game 4-2 and Jones, from East Vines, Hendon, was photographed in the
stands making a monkey gesture towards the Belgian striker Romelu
Lukaku who had just scored.
As the player was snapped
leaping in celebration, Jones could be seen out of his seat, in a grey
flat cap, shouting at the striker with his hands cupped towards his
armpits.
He later told reporters he was doing a
"chicken dance" and pleaded not guilty to the charge when it came before
Sunderland magistrates.
A trial had been due to take place next month but at a hearing last week Jones entered a guilty plea.
Court officials have confirmed he was handed a three year football banning order and an 18-month conditional discharge.
Following a previous court hearing, Jones made as if he was going to spit at photographers waiting outside.
After
the case, Chief Superintendent Steve Neill of Northumbria Police, said:
"Racist behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated and Northumbria
Police will fully investigate any reports made to us.
"We
know people who are responsible for these actions are part of a small
minority and would continue to encourage anyone who sees this kind of
behaviour to report it to us and help us rid football of any racism."