A FOOTBALL fan who was knocked out at a Chelsea game after goading rival supporters doesn’t even support the club, his boss revealed.
Bill Tarbuck, an apprentice at Elite Electrical Contracting in Sutton, Surrey, was brutally punched in an altercation with a West Ham fan outside the derby match at London Stadium on February 11.
However, Gregg Barnes, who owns the firm, has now let slip that Tarbuck is not, as assumed, a die-hard Chelsea man.
Instead, his heart apparently belongs to League Two side AFC Wimbledon.
Mr Barnes told MailOnline: “The weird part is that he is actually an [AFC] Wimbledon fan. He just went with a group of mates and got in with the wrong crowd. He is very sorry for what he has done.
“I have spoken to Bill. He has gotten a bit of grief and banter, but nobody condones what happened. Everyone is of the impression that he deserved it because he found himself in a silly position.
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“In the four or five years he has worked with us, there has never been any sign he is anything like that. We have high hopes for him in the future and becoming a central part of our plans moving forward. He never has time off and is always on time.”
He added that Tarbuck is a “good egg” and has been told to to “move on from it and get his head down”
The unfortunate apprentice has been given a week off to recover.
Mr Barnes concluded: “Hopefully he will learn from that and it will be a life lesson for him. Nobody has been hurt.”
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It comes after a video emerged of Tarbuck trying to see the funny side of the ordeal in his hospital bed.
He said: “You’ve got to have a laugh.”
The rival teams scrapped out a 1-1 draw in the Premier League fixture .
Cops confirmed that a 22-year-old man was arrested after another video on Twitter appeared to show a man being led away by officers.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “A 22-year-old man was arrested before kick-off at the London Stadium [on February 11] after an alleged assault on another man. The man has been taken into custody.”
The weird part is that he is actually an [AFC] Wimbledon fan.”
Gregg Barnes
Chelsea star Reece James mentioned the attack after the game on Instagram.
Posting on his story he said: “The news has crossed my attention that a fan was punched and knocked out before today’s game.
“I totally understand rivalry and the tension between teams in big games but violence is no answer.
“I hope he’s okay. Appreciate the travelling fans as always. Stick with us and stay safe. See you in Dortmund.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
