A MANCHESTER CITY fan has been banned from football for three years and fined £500 after a court found him guilty of making a racist gesture towards Manchester United players.
The disgraced supporter’s actions during the Manchester Derby at the Etihad in December 2019 were caught live on camera and beamed to millions of viewers across the world.
Anthony Burke, 42, was seen with his mouth open and both hands raised to the waist as he made the racist ‘monkey gesture’.
According to the Manchester Evening News, a steward has claimed Burke was making a ‘monkey sound’ during the incident.
Frank Coulson, who was giving evidence, reportedly told the court: “I have never come across it before.
“I would say it was racism. I saw a gentleman, a large gentleman with a beard going, ‘oo, oo, oo, oo.’
“One hundred per cent that’s what he was doing.”
Burke – from Wythenshawe, Manchester – pleaded not guilty in August 2020 to a racially aggravated public order offence.
But he was found guilty at Tameside magistrates court on Wednesday, June 2.
Burke has received a three-year football banning order – preventing him from attending games – and a £500 fine.
The incident happened mid-way through the second half, when United were leading 2-0.
Jesse Lingard, Fred and Anthony Martial had approached the corner of the ground where Burke was sitting.
The disgraced supporter is believed to have handed himself into police the day after the match, where he was arrested and charged.
Witness Coulson continued: “I stood up for the corner with my colleagues, then I heard someone shout, ‘Get on with it you black b******.’ It was crystal clear.
“I have never seen anyone do a monkey chant. The air can be blue where I work but what made this one different was that it was below the belt.”
When giving evidence, Burke denied the allegations of racism and claimed he was responding to Martial, who allegedly gave a ‘2-0’ gesture to City fans.
The 42-year-old is also believed to have said he was ’embarrassed’ by his actions, claiming they were ‘out of character’.
And Burke is understood to have claimed the incident has ‘destroyed’ his life.
He told the court: “It [his alleged gesture] was just to tell him [Martial] that I was not bothered.
“What came out of my mouth was ‘ooooo’ – it was a continuous noise.”
District Judge Margaret McCormack told the supporter: “You were bothered.
“Your team was being beaten. It was like a powder keg. You did act as alleged by Mr Coulson.”
Burke’s actions were widely condemned following the match and he’s expected to be banned for life by City.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
