February 17, (THEWILL) –Â A Spurs fan, who assaulted Arsenal goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale, at last month’s North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur has been handed a four-year ban from attending football matches after pleading guilty.
The incident occurred following Arsenal’s 2-0 win over their rivals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on January 15, when Ramsdale was kicked in the back by a home supporter.
Joseph Watts, a 35-year-old resident of East London, admitted to the charge of assault by beating at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Friday. Watts was seen climbing onto the advertising hoardings before kicking Ramsdale, who was collecting his belongings from behind the goal after a heated discussion with Spurs forward Richarlison.
The incident was met with widespread condemnation, with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) describing it as “unacceptable”. In addition to the four-year ban, Watts has also been ordered to pay Ramsdale £100 in compensation and given a community order. Tottenham expressed their outrage at the incident, saying they were “appalled” by Watts’ actions.
The assault is the latest in a series of incidents involving football supporters, and highlights the ongoing need for measures to ensure the safety of players and officials both on and off the pitch.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
