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Arsenal fan told to pay rival £15,000 for attack
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent23 Feb 2009
AN Arsenal fan was today ordered to pay £15,000 compensation to a rival supporter he attacked for celebrating an away goal at the Emirates Stadium.
Victim Michael Clancy suffered a broken nose, jaw and eye socket after David Knight pushed him down concrete steps and left him in a pool of blood.
Knight, 43, struck out after seeing Mr Clancy celebrating a first half own goal in the match against Aston Villa last March.
Knight, of Sidcup, pleaded guilty at Blackfriars crown court to inflicting grievous bodily harm.
He was banned from going to matches for three years, ordered to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work and was given a year to pay Mr Clancy the £15,000 compensation.
But he escaped a jail sentence after the court was told "a lifetime of industry and sterling character was lost in a moment of temper and recklessness".
Knight reacted when Mr Clancy, who was sitting with home supporters, leapt to his feet when Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos scored an own goal. He was watching the match with his son, but rushed over to Mr Clancy, shoved him in the chest and sent him crashing down a flight of concrete steps. Knight walked back to his seat while fans rushed to help the unconscious man.
Knight, who has been nursing his wife during her recovery from a brain tumour, initially denied the attack but changed his plea shortly before he was due to stand trial.
Reader views (11)
A fan at Villa was given a lifetime ban for throwing a coin at a game earlier this season, but this guy gets three seasons... Some slight disparity here?
- Chris, UK, 24/02/2009 13:25
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As an ex London based Villa fan, I went in the home end at London matches, often because it was the only way I could get in to see the match. On saying that though, I would rarely openly celebrate a goal.
If this guy had been abusive or winding up home supporters, I could understand (if not approve of) this bloke's actions but for just celebrating a goal, his actions were way over the top and quite frankly he deserved everything the judge gave him.
- Andy Downes, Riyadh Saudi Arabia, 24/02/2009 10:33
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This was a stupid and reckless attack, and no body deserves to get attacked going to a football match,
But under the rules of buying a ticket in a football ground away fans cannot buy tickets in home areas and also if deemed to be an away fan they will be ejected from the ground.
This is something that should not have happened , but unfortunately in this day and age was easily preventable
- Robbie, London, 24/02/2009 08:55
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How extraordinary, a sensible Judge
- Norman, Athens, Greece., 24/02/2009 00:24
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Sadly a moment of madness like that can destroy lives. If the injured fan had died his attacker would have most likely been given a life sentence of fifteen years. The fifteen thousand pound fine pales in comparison.
- John, London, 24/02/2009 00:11
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Not condoning what Knight did but there is a reason for keeping the home and away fans separated. Feelings run high during a football match - why on earth was the victim stupid enough to sit amongst home fans and celebrate when the goal was scored?
- Mac, London, 23/02/2009 23:32
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At his age he should know better.
- Annabelle, london, 23/02/2009 22:35
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No matter what the court have decided, Arsenal should be banning him from their ground for at least 20 years.
- Harry H, London UK, 23/02/2009 21:21
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What a moron! This guy is 42 years old for goodness sake.
- Ed, Hants, 23/02/2009 17:28
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With the cost of season tickets compared to the lack of goals scored by Arsenal, most fans seem to be charged about £15k per attack.
- Jon, london,England, 23/02/2009 16:02
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To plead not guily infront of thousands of witnesses and cameras he has to be an idiot
- Dc, London, 23/02/2009 15:39
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