SUNDERLAND, England (AP) — A soccer fan in England has been banned from attending games for three years because he made a racist gesture toward a black player during a game last season.
Court officials said Liam Jones admitted causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress by making a monkey gesture at Romelu Lukaku while watching Sunderland lose 4-2 to West Brom last November.
Jones, who first pleaded not guilty to the charge, had been photographed in the stands making the gesture after Lukaku scored. A trial had been due to take place next month but at a hearing last week Jones entered a guilty plea.
Lukaku, one of the Premier league's top scorers last season, is back at Chelsea after he scored 17 goals on loan at West Brom last season.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
Court officials said Liam Jones admitted causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress by making a monkey gesture at Romelu Lukaku while watching Sunderland lose 4-2 to West Brom last November.
Jones, who first pleaded not guilty to the charge, had been photographed in the stands making the gesture after Lukaku scored. A trial had been due to take place next month but at a hearing last week Jones entered a guilty plea.
Lukaku, one of the Premier league's top scorers last season, is back at Chelsea after he scored 17 goals on loan at West Brom last season.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
