Emirates banana thrower claims: I’m not a racist
THE Tottenham fan charged with throwing a banana skin at Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has claimed he is not racist.
Averof Panteli says he found the banana skin on the ground and threw it without thinking about the racial implications. The incident
happened after the striker gave the Gunners a 1-0 lead from the penalty spot in Sunday’s north London derby at the Emirates.
Panteli, a 57-year-old father-of-three from Norwich, said he reacted after Aubameyang celebrated his goal in front of the visiting fans.
“I am not racist whatsoever. I am actually a Greek Cypriot. I am 100 per cent not a racist. I swear on my kids’ lives that I am not that kind of guy,” he said.
“I apologise if I have offended anyone. It was a mad thing I did and I never meant to offend anyone.
“I have been charged with throwing an object. I am not charged with anything racist. The police were happy to accept it was not racist.
“I didn’t think of the racist connotations.”
Mr Panteli said he intended to plead guilty to throwing a missile on the pitch when he appears before magistrates on December 31.
He phoned Tottenham to apologise and was told by club officials he was banned for life. But the FA have dropped their probe into the flash-point after police ruled the incident was not racially aggravated.