“The Premier League welcomes the three-year stadium ban handed down today to the man who racially abused Son Heung-min at Selhurst Park (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium) in May,” the English Premier League’s governing body said in a statement on its official social media accounts.
“It is important that those found guilty of discriminatory behavior are held accountable. These punishments send a clear message that actions will be taken and there will be consequences.”
On Aug. 8, the Mirror and other British media outlets reported that a three-year stadium ban was handed down to a fan who used both hands to tear out the eyes of Son Heung-min during a match against Crystal Palace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in May.
At the time, Tottenham said: “We are aware that Son Heung-min was subjected to racial abuse during the match against Crystal Palace. The club is working with the police and the opposition to identify the fan who carried out the act.” “Discrimination of any kind is abhorrent and will not be tolerated at our stadium. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the offender receives a strong disciplinary response.”
Crystal Palace also released a statement saying, “A report of racist behavior towards Son Heung-min by a fan of ours is circulating on social media. We have confirmed this and will share evidence with the police,” the club said in a statement.
The fan was fined £1,384 ($2.23 million) and sentenced to 60 hours of community service in August, but Tottenham appealed the punishment, which was added to a three-year stadium ban.
Earlier this season, a Chelsea fan was also caught using racist behavior towards Son Heung-min, tearing his eye from side to side, and the club handed him a three-year stadium ban.
Douglas McKay, the prosecutor who handed the Crystal Palace fan a three-year stadium ban, said: “Racist behavior has a devastating impact on the players and fans involved. This vile behavior has no place in sport. We will consider further bans for similar incidents in the future.”
However, Premier League fans reacted to the news by saying that the punishment was light. “He should be banned from the stadium for life,” said many on social media. 아톰카지노 도메인
“We can confirm that an away fan who engaged in racist behavior towards Son Heung-min has been banned from the stadium for three years,” Tottenham said on its website, adding, “We would like to thank the police for their assistance in this matter. We reiterate that the club will not tolerate discrimination of any kind and will take the strongest possible action against the offender.”
“Racism has no place in football or in any part of society,” said the Premier League Office, “and we urge anyone who witnesses or hears discrimination of any kind to report it.”