An Arsenal fan who threw a banana at Tottenham star Gareth Bale was today banned from attending football matches for three years.
Thomas Flint, 23, of Brantwood Gardens, Enfield, launched the fruit at during the north London derby at White Hart Lane on March 3. Tottenham won 2-1.
Today, at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court, carpenter Flint admitted throwing a missile on to the playing area, and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
The court heard that he was a regular at games and on the day was seen shouting: "F*** off, come on then you c****," at Spurs fans.
Flint, who, the court heard, has no interests other than football, was sentenced to a three-year football banning order, fined £250 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £25 victim surcharge.
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He was supported by family and friends in court.
The hearing had to be adjourned for five minutes while a waiting defendant was removed because he kept laughing and shouting out comments.
District Judge Rebecca Crane told Flint his "disgraceful" actions could have sparked violence at the match.
She said: "You have let yourself down.
"You have good references but you allowed your passion for football and the game to boil over into hostility for a single player and the opposing team.
"This was more than foolish - it was disgraceful behaviour.
"What you threw from such a distance could have hurt someone and it was offensive as well... it could have boiled over into violence."
