Stoke City fan hit with ban for Mario Balotelli monkey taunts
STOKE City fan Terence Jones has been hit with a three-year football banning order after shouting racist monkey taunts at Premier League star Mario Balotelli.
The 36-year-old repeatedly racially abused Balotelli over the course of 40 minutes during September's Britannia Stadium clash against Manchester City.
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Manchester City's Mario Balotelli.
Jones – who had drunk two pints and was at the game with his two children – shouted 'monkey' and 'you're dirty, get a bath' towards Balotelli.
Leanne Jones, prosecuting, told North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court yesterday: "The racial chants started about 15 minutes into the game, he was shouting 'monkey' and 'black *******' believed to be aimed at Mario Balotelli.
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"He was also heard shouting 'where's your mother?' a reference to the footballer being adopted.
"This lasted about 40 minutes until, about five minutes into the second half, the defendant was arrested."
Jones, who works for Fenton-based Potteries Demolition, had been a season ticket holder for two years, but this has now been seized.
Simon Davies, mitigating, said: "This offence is out of character. Mr Jones has been a season ticket holder for the last two years but prior to that he had been to many games and is even a member of the Potters Foundation Club.
"He had been at the game and had been watching the game when the chanting started around him.
"He accepts he became involved in the chants and he feels totally embarrassed by what he said. He is not a man who is racist and wished he had not said what he did, but unfortunately he cannot turn back time."
The court heard Jones, who was sitting in the Q-railing Stand, has not been to the Britannia Stadium since the match on September 15.
Jones, of Worth Close, Meir Hay, who admitted engaging in and taking part in chanting of a racist nature, was also fined £370 and ordered to pay £85 costs.
Magistrate Sue Allcock said: "This was a serious offence, especially because you had your children with you and there were other children there at the time."
Comments
by petemarino
Tuesday, November 27 2012, 5:04PM
“3 year ban eh! he can always go up the vale then, lol.”
by UmBongo
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 11:46AM
“I am a black man - I was at the game. I wish I had heard him as I wouldve knocked his teeth out.
I remember being at a Stoke match with 2 black friends and a small group of idiots starting to chant BNP!! BNP!!.
We went over and confronted them in the Boothen and they all shut up. They actuially all looked about 19/20 years of age. But around 20 of them and me and 2 mates (granted we're rather large lads) so they're very brave arent they.
Being black and having grown up in Stoke (moved away at 18 but regularly go back to visit and for games) I can tell you that most white Stoke people are not in the least bit racist. On the contrary - they embrace muti-culturalism. It just takes a few idiots to to tarnish a City's reputation.
It's all in the news lately what with John Terry and the like. Say what you want about Pulis but if a Stoke player did what John Terry did he wouldnt play another game for us and would be shipped off at the soonest opportunity”
by DJofTNE
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 11:34AM
“Shadow, well thats ok then, his kids were not with him at the time which makes his actions perfectly acceptable? Oh dear shadow, what planet are you on? Nice blokes dont do what he did, he cannot blame it on the alcohol as he had'nt had enough of it, so he has those undertones in him, simple as that. Your backing him up, so i would imagine you have the same undertones as him, not acceptable behaviour at all, would he want his kids acting like he did?”
by UmBongo
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 11:28AM
“I am a black man - I was at the game. I wish I had heard him as I wouldve knocked his teeth out.
I remember being at a Stoke match with 2 black friends and a small group of idiots starting to chant BNP!! BNP!!.
We went over and confronted them in the Boothen and they all shut up. They actuially all looked about 19/20 years of age. But around 20 of them and me and 2 mates (granted we're rather large lads) so they're very brave arent they.
Being black and having grown up in Stoke (moved away at 18 but regularly go back to visit and for games) I can tell you that most white Stoke people are not in the least bit racist. On the contrary - they embrace muti-culturalism. It just takes a few idiots to to tarnish a City's reputation.
It's all in the news lately what with John Terry and the like. Say what you want about Pulis but if a Stoke player did what John Terry did he wouldnt play another game for us and would be shipped off at the soonest opportunity”
by warren-lloyd
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 11:14AM
“No Stokeandvale, some of these people keep going on about bring back the birch, and that's what is needed hear, life time ban from football and a good 10 lashes outside the home end next match.”
by stokeandvale
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 10:57AM
“I agree Warren, he has given the people of Stoke a bad name.
To mock someone because they are adopted is shamefull.
I think he should have been sent to Prison.”
by warren-lloyd
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 10:40AM
“Racist, bigoted and a dammed disgrace, and I'm happy to see so many football fans, and I'm not one of them coming hear and saying so. This is the sort of thing that needs stamping out. I do think more should be punished for this.”
by shadow222
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 10:23AM
“Here here belladonna 117 leave all these well mannered people who dont drink, dont smoke, bring their children up to be perfect etc etc (sounds like Alice in Fantasy land to me)”
by belladonna117
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 9:36AM
“Leave the bloke alone u sad people,unless one of u is that person who has never made a stupid mistake? Yeah thought not!! He's not killed/maimed anyone he shouted something in the heat of the moment along with about 40 other people but where are they??”
by stokeandvale
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 9:16AM
“Jobeeone
Anyone who makes MONKEY CHANTS at a Black person is in my eyes a RACIST.”