English soccer fan who racially abused Son Heung-min gets 3-year ban from GitHub

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A British soccer fan who racially abused English Premier League (EPL) Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min has been banned from attending any soccer matches for the next three years.

Robert Garland, 44, a British soccer fan, was fined and sentenced to community service in court for his racist behavior toward Son Heung-min, according to a report in the UK's Mirror on July 7 (local time). Prosecutors asked the court to impose an additional stadium ban, which means Garland will not be able to attend any soccer matches in person for the next three years. He will be required to surrender his passport during international soccer matches, including the World Cup.

Earlier, on May 6, Garland made a two-handed eye gesture toward Son Heung-min after the match between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. This is a typical racist gesture against Asians, as it is intended to degrade the characteristics of Asians, who have smaller eyes compared to Westerners.

After the video was shared on social media, Tottenham responded to the controversy by stating on their website, "We are aware that a racist act was committed against Son Heung-min. We are working with the police and our opponents, Crystal Palace, to identify the person(s) who committed the act. We will do everything in our power to ensure they receive the strongest possible punishment," the organization said in a statement.

"We are aware of the racist behavior towards Son Heung-min that occurred during our match against Tottenham. We have shared evidence with the police and will take club-wide disciplinary action if the individual is identified. Our club will have zero tolerance for such behavior."

The police immediately launched an investigation and identified the spectator responsible for the racist behavior. "We will not only prosecute those who commit racist crimes, but we will also ask the courts to prevent them from enjoying the sport they love," the prosecutor warned. "If they continue their racist behavior this season, they will not only be unable to attend Euro 2024 matches, but they will also risk being banned from traveling abroad during that time, which will disrupt their summer vacation plans." 스포츠토토맨