The crowd at the 2-2 draw between Port Vale and AFC Wimbledon witnessed awkward moments with a pensioner allegedly throwing a banana at the referee. The 74 year old was released from the police on bail. Historically, bananas were known to be thrown by racist fans on black players, although this incident does not seemingly smell of racism.
Sam Cunningham, football intelligence officer, talked to This Is Staffordshire, and said, “Apparently, a decision by the referee infuriated a fan and he threw the banana at him. We’ve reviewed the footage, and noted that there was no player in the vicinity when the incident happened.”
Played at Kingsmeadow in Kingston-upon-Thames, this League Two game closed at 2-2, with the host club topping the tables for the division. The actions by the pensioner have irked online opinion givers immensely, and Wimbledon fans have expressed their anger on the events online.
“It would serve him right, and set a good example for future offenders if he were to be banned for the lifetime from the Club,” expressed a fan on an online fan community. “We do not want to see you again, ever,” commented and another. Some were all the more vocal in their condemnations, with a fan writing, “It is hard to believe that the man was not held then and there, and given a fitting thrashing for his unbelievably wrong behaviour.”
The event has made people remember the sorry times when racist behavior on the football fields and in the stands was commonplace, particularly in the 1980’s. The famous image of John Barnes, the British legend throwing away a banana from the pitch that was aimed at him while he was playing for Liverpool expresses the same. Thankfully, police and authorities have succeeded in curbing such instances nowadays.