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Liverpool 'monkey gesture' fan found guilty of racism offence
Phillip Gannon was filmed directing racist taunts toward Manchester United's Patrice Evra during an FA Cup tie and is now banned from attending Reds matches for four years
22 Jun 2012 13:15:00
More On : Liverpool, Manchester United
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Liverpool supporter Phillip Gannon has been found guilty of making a racist gesture towards Patrice Evra during the Reds' FA Cup clash with Manchester United at Anfield in January.
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Gannon was handed a four-year ban from attending any football match in England and Wales and made to pay £480 in court costs and a fine.
The 58-year-old is also banned from travelling to any town or city where the Reds are playing from four hours before kick-off until four hours after full-time.
TV footage captured on the father of five, who hails from Barmouth, Wales, impersonating a monkey in the direction of the Old Trafford left-back, who had been at the centre of the racism controversy that saw Luis Suarez banned for eight matches in late 2011.
Images and footage of the former carpenter circulated on social networking website Twitter and complaints regarding his actions were made to the police.
Gannon claimed he was impersonating a Neanderthal and pleaded not guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence and using threatening or anti-social behaviour causing harassment, alarm or distress.
However, following a two-day trial at Liverpool Magistrates Court, he was convicted of the racism offence.
Rob Girvan, prosecuting, said: “This gesture was caught on camera and it was seen globally not just nationally.
“There was a volatile and tense atmosphere at the game because of a player on the pitch who said he was a victim of racial abuse.
“The defendant saying he was impersonating a Neanderthal is just a childish excuse to cover up what he did.
“It was clearly a racist gesture.”
