A football fan who slapped Man City’s Jack Grealish after the star called him a ‘little, ugly wanker’ has been banned from matches for three years.
Alfie Holt, 20, pleaded guilty to a single count of assault on Grealish after an encounter at the Manchester Derby in April, a court heard.
Prosecutor Shazia Aslam told the court Grealish was leaving the field after the Derby at Old Trafford, which was broadcast on Sky TV with a sell-out crowd. She said both sets of fans were very vocal and abusive.
The court heard that as players left the field, heading for the tunnel, Holt stood very close by, shouting abuse at Man City players.
Holt told police later that he had been drinking ‘in town’ with his dad before the game, before he began shouting abuse at football players, including Phil Foden, who ignored him.
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But it was the jeer of ‘Knobhead!’ at Grealish that prompted the verbal altercation.
Grealish replied: ‘You little, ugly wanker,’ prompting Holt to ‘flip’ and slap the famous footballer. Grealish wasn’t injured.
Magistrates were shown a brief clip of the incident, which had no sound.
Ms Aslam added: ‘The defendant uses force against a player. Players are extremely vulnerable to this sort of conduct and need to be protected.’
Holt, a Manchester United season ticket holder in the Stretford End, was also given a three-year Football Banning Order and was fined £120, with £85 costs and a surcharge of £48.
The defendant told the court: ‘I did not expect him to say what he said to me, and I have reacted. I regret it. That’s it.’
Melanie Winstantley, defending, said Holt had no previous convictions and had never been arrested before, so the incident was completely out of character for him.
His Man Utd season ticket, which he has had for 12 years, had already been revoked, which is a ‘significant punishment’ to him.
She added: ‘He’s admitted what he’s done, he’s owned what he’s done. It’s a very minor assault.’
Ms Winstanley also said Grealish had ‘doubled back’ after going into the tunnel to speak to Holt.
‘He didn’t have to do that. It’s not unusual for players and fans to engage in banter at football matches. I’m not trying to excuse the behaviour,’ she added.
Passing sentence, chairwoman of the magistrates’ bench Jill Hodges told the defendant she accepted Holt had pleaded guilty and he appeared to regret his actions, but said there needs to be ‘punishment and deterrence’ for the behaviour.
The court heard fines cannot be deducted from Holt’s Personal Independence Payments, so his parents, with whom he lives, have agreed to pay them in full within 28 days.
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