Fan Banned for Racist Gestures

[redsforlife]

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/story/_/id/8084946/liverpool-fan-phillip-gannon-given-4-year-ban-racial-abuse


I am glad that this man got banned from games, because racism is wrong. It has no place in football. I do disagree with all the fines he is having to pay. He is facing criminal charges for gestures.

I am wondering if racism is illegal in the UK. I know for a fact that it is not illegal in the US. It is protected by freedom of speech laws. In the USA, if someone was doing something similar at a sporting event, he would be removed from the stadium and maybe even banned from the stadium. He would not face any criminal charges unless he threatened violence.

Does anyone know whether racism is illegal in the UK or something? That could be the only explanation for this.

[Adi]

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/story/_/id/8084946/liverpool-fan-phillip-gannon-given-4-year-ban-racial-abuse


I am glad that this man got banned from games, because racism is wrong. It has no place in football. I do disagree with all the fines he is having to pay. He is facing criminal charges for gestures.

I am wondering if racism is illegal in the UK. I know for a fact that it is not illegal in the US. It is protected by freedom of speech laws. In the USA, if someone was doing something similar at a sporting event, he would be removed from the stadium and maybe even banned from the stadium. He would not face any criminal charges unless he threatened violence.

Does anyone know whether racism is illegal in the UK or something? That could be the only explanation for this.

Well, he was banned from their games, not necessarily charged with anything else.  I see the fine that was given to him so maybe it did have something to do with a law, or it could just be a fine for something besides racism.

Either way, good they did this.  Maybe they can work on catching more people like this.  It could be difference in stopping racism if people know they will get banned.

[redsforlife]

The entire thing was done by the police. There was a fine and court charges they are requiring him to pay. In my opinion, ban him for life for all I care. I don't think Liverpool needs his support. Unless the laws differ that much in the UK from here, he shouldn't be facing any criminal charges. That's the only part I disagree with.