Crystal Palace fan receives three-year ban for racial abuse of Son Heung-min

• Posted on November 9, 2023November 9, 2023
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Robert Garland, a Crystal Palace fan, has been handed a three-year football banning order after he racially abused Tottenham and South Korea forward Son Heung-min during a match at Selhurst Park in May.

Garland had previously pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment in August, resulting in a sentence of 60 hours of unpaid work and a fine of £1,384.

However, the initial sentence was appealed by both Tottenham and the Metropolitan Police, which led to the imposition of the three-year football banning order. Under the order, Garland will be unable to attend any regulated football matches for the next three years and will be required to surrender his passport during international fixtures.

Son Heung-min had reported the discriminatory behaviour to the police, emphasizing that he had done nothing to provoke such racist treatment during the match.

The Premier League welcomed the banning order, emphasizing the importance of holding individuals accountable for their discriminatory actions and sending a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated.

Tottenham also expressed its commitment to taking strong action against those responsible for such incidents, highlighting its stance against all forms of discrimination.