Football
Reuters 5y

Tottenham fan banned four years for throwing banana skin at Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

A Tottenham fan has been banned from football matches for four years for throwing a banana skin at an Arsenal player who is black.

Averof Panteli was found guilty of a "targeted gesture" aimed at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with a "racial element."

Aubameyang was celebrating scoring a goal in front of visiting Tottenham fans at Emirates Stadium on Dec. 2.

Panteli, who lives in Norwich, got a 4-year ban and was ordered to pay £635 ($800) in fines and court costs.

He pleaded guilty to throwing a missile but denied racist intent.

Tottenham imposed a lifetime ban on Panteli.

The incident was one of a number of events that renewed a debate about racism in English football.

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