An Arsenal supporter has been banned from attending football matches for three years after admitting to throwing a banana at Tottenham forward Gareth Bale during a north London derby.
Thomas Flint was accused by a judge of “disgraceful behaviour” for hurling the fruit at Bale as he took a corner and swearing at Tottenham fans during the Premier League match at White Hart Lane on March 3.
District Judge Rebecca Crane told Flint at a magistrates’ court on Friday that he allowed his passion for football “to boil over into hostility for a single player and the opposing team…and it could have boiled over into violence.”
Flint was also fined STG250 ($A367).
Arsenal previously said it would ban for life the fan found guilty of the offence.