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Colin Kazim-Richards guilty over homophobic gesture | Colin Kazim-Richards guilty over homophobic gesture |
(35 minutes later) | |
A footballer who made a homophobic gesture to Brighton and Hove Albion fans has been found guilty. | A footballer who made a homophobic gesture to Brighton and Hove Albion fans has been found guilty. |
Colin Kazim-Richards mimicked pulling his shorts down and put his left arm behind his bottom at the match last February, Brighton magistrates heard. | Colin Kazim-Richards mimicked pulling his shorts down and put his left arm behind his bottom at the match last February, Brighton magistrates heard. |
Kazim-Richards, 27, who was playing for Blackburn Rovers at the time, claimed he was "having a bit of banter" with fans who he said were abusing him. | Kazim-Richards, 27, who was playing for Blackburn Rovers at the time, claimed he was "having a bit of banter" with fans who he said were abusing him. |
But he was convicted of using abusive or insulting behaviour and fined £750. | |
Kazim-Richards committed the offence while playing on loan for Blackburn against Brighton, his former club, in a Championship match on 12 February 2013. | Kazim-Richards committed the offence while playing on loan for Blackburn against Brighton, his former club, in a Championship match on 12 February 2013. |
The court heard he was targeted by fans with the chant "you're fat and you know you are". | The court heard he was targeted by fans with the chant "you're fat and you know you are". |
'Offensive and homophobic' | 'Offensive and homophobic' |
The player told magistrates he had been prepared for the banter and said he had been "interacting with the fans" when he made the gesture behind his back. | |
"I was basically doing what they were doing to me," said the footballer, who now plays in Turkey for Bursaspor. | |
A father and son who were working as match-day press stewards told the court they saw Kazim-Richards make the gesture more than once and they had found it offensive and homophobic. | A father and son who were working as match-day press stewards told the court they saw Kazim-Richards make the gesture more than once and they had found it offensive and homophobic. |
In 2013 the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said "positive action" would be taken when behaviour in football was regarded as offensive. | In 2013 the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said "positive action" would be taken when behaviour in football was regarded as offensive. |
The CPS said Brighton fans had been subjected to homophobic abuse at more than 70% of away games during the 2012-13 season. | The CPS said Brighton fans had been subjected to homophobic abuse at more than 70% of away games during the 2012-13 season. |
Brighton and Hove Albion Supporters' Club said homophobic abuse was aimed at Brighton fans because the city was viewed by some as a "gay capital". | Brighton and Hove Albion Supporters' Club said homophobic abuse was aimed at Brighton fans because the city was viewed by some as a "gay capital". |
Kazim-Richards, who had denied using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, was also ordered to pay £620 court costs and a £75 victim surcharge. |