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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 supporters 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. | But he was convicted of using abusive or insulting behaviour and fined £750. |
Sussex Police said it was the first conviction of its type involving allegations of homophobia against a professional footballer. | |
'Interacting with fans' | |
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". |
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. | 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. | "I was basically doing what they were doing to me," said the footballer, who now plays in Turkey for Bursaspor. |
Christopher Cannon and his son Daryl, 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. | |
Daryl Cannon said: "I perceived it as a very wrong thing to do, particularly for someone who's involved with the Kick It Out Campaign. | |
"Racism and homophobia are on the same level." | |
'Test case' | |
PC Darren Balkham, Sussex Police's football liaison officer for Brighton and Hove Albion, said after the hearing: "The Brighton fans have been subjected to a lot of homophobic abuse over many years. | |
"This was somewhat of a test case involving a professional footballer. | |
"We are where racism was 20 years ago," he said. | |
"This was the first case where a professional footballer has been convicted of making a homophobic gesture towards the crowd." | |
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. |
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. | 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. |