‘Idiot’ who shouted racist abuse at Mo Salah receives ban.
An Everton fan who yelled racial abuse at Mohamed Salah has been banned from sport for three years.
Joel Barwise, 26, admitted to yelling racial comments during the Merseyside derby at Anfield in October, as well as ridiculing the Heysel Stadium disaster.
Barwise was fined £500 and issued a banning order after pleading guilty to racially or religiously aggravated harassment causing alarm or distress by speech or writing at Sefton Magistrates’ Court.
The Crown Prosecution Service claims Barwise was spotted shouting obscenities when Salah’s name was announced before the game, and he allegedly mocked home fans about the Heysel stadium disaster.
According to reports, a steward recognized Barwise, and Merseyside Police arrested him after identifying him on CCTV.
When asked why he had done it, Barwise, who initially claimed to be the victim of mistaken identity before pleading guilty, replied, “Because I’m an idiot.”
Senior Crown Prosecutor Angela Conlan stated, “Joel Barwise no doubt considers himself an Everton fan, but his actions bring shame to his club.”
“He mocked a sad football disaster and yelled racist slurs when a key Liverpool player’s name was called. Football has no place for this type of behavior, and the majority of Everton fans would undoubtedly reject his actions that day and seek to distance themselves from him.
“For his terrible behavior, he is now barred from following his team or any other UK team for three years, has been punished, and has a criminal record.
“The Crown Prosecution Service hopes this sends out a message to all football spectators that the law applies in a football ground as it does anywhere else and this sort of behaviour is criminal.”
According to the CPS, Barwise, of Bentham Drive in Childwall, is subject to a three-year ban from attending any football games in the UK and is need to relinquish his passport when international matches are played overseas.
Additionally, on matchdays, he is not permitted to go within a mile of any Everton game, home or away, or within a mile of Liverpool’s Lime Street station.
Naturally, Salah scored both goals as Liverpool prevailed 2-0 in the Merseyside derby in October.
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