A Manchester United season ticket holder who slapped Manchester City star Jack Grealish has been handed a three-year football ban.
The incident occurred at Old Trafford after the Manchester Derby in April when the two rival clubs settled on a 0-0 draw. The fan, Alfie Holt, got into an exchange of words with Grealish while the England international headed towards the tunnel.
The 20-year-old has pleaded guilty to slapping the Manchester City attacker but told the city's magistrates' court that he reacted after being called a "little ugly w*****". He'd been a United season ticket holder for 12 years but has already had his ticket revoked after what his defence called a "very minor assault".
Fan Given Ban And Fine For Slapping Grealish
The defence claim the slap was "completely out of character"
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Holt had told the Police that he had been drinking before the derby in town and attended the match with his father. He tried goading City players at the end of the game, including Phil Foden although Grealish's teammate ignored him.
The Mirror relayed comments made from the court case and Holt pleaded guilty to a single count of assault on the Englishman but explained his actions came after the insult: "I did not expect him to say what he said to me and I have reacted. I regret it. That's it."
The defendant from Droylsden, Tameside, will now serve a three-year Football Banning Order and has been fined £120, with £85 costs and a surcharge of £48.
Shazia Aslam, the prosecutor in the case, explained how both sets of fans' abuse turned into a physical incident between Holt and Grealish:
"Both sets of fans were very vocal, shouting abusive comments to rival players... As the complainant, Jack Grealish, a Man City player, enters the tunnel area, he hears the defendant shouting comments towards him. He turns and walks towards him. Both have an exchange of words.
She added:
"As the complainant walks away, the defendant slaps the complainant across the face. There was no injury. He was arrested outside the stadium."
Grealish had told the police that he couldn't hear what the defendant was shouting because of crowd noise. He claimed to have leaned in to speak to the United fan, but once he moved away, he was slapped.
Ms Aslam explained the risk of players being approached by fans in such a scenario:
"The defendant uses force against a player. Players are extremely vulnerable to this sort of conduct and need to be protected."
Melanie Winstantley of Holt's defence team think the ban and fine are a "significant punishment" for an individual with no previous convictions and who has never been arrested before. She said that it was completely out of character.
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