SPORT / SOCCER
Banana-throwing Tottenham fan not to face racism charge
Published: Dec 04, 2018 09:03 PM

The Tottenham Hotspur fan who threw a banana skin onto the pitch at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ­celebrated scoring a penalty in front of Tottenham fans will not be charged with a racist offense.

Averof Panteli - a 57-year-old grandfather - will face a charge of throwing a missile after police judged it not to be a racially aggravated offense.

Panteli - who says he will plead guilty to the charge when he is in court on December 18 - has also been informed by Tottenham he will be banned from their games for life.

"The police were happy to say it was not racism," he told The Sun.

"I phoned Tottenham to apologize and they said they would be getting in touch with me to ban me for life."

Panteli said he had been irked by Aubameyang celebrating in front of the Tottenham fans.

The Gabonese star's spot kick gave Arsenal an early lead and the Gunners eventually ran out 4-2 winners.  

"I am not racist whatsoever," said Panteli.

"I am actually a Greek Cypriot. I am 100 percent not a racist. I swear on my kids' lives that I am not that kind of guy.

"The Arsenal player was gloating in front of the away fans. He came up towards the away fans about 10 meters away and he is basically nodding his head and clapping at us.

"Without thinking, I picked up this banana skin from the ground and threw it on the edge of the pitch.

"I didn't throw it at the ­players. It was just on the edge of the pitch.

"I am not condoning what I did and I regret it already."