A 35 – year – old man from London, England has recently been banned from appearing at soccer matches for 4 – years following him pleading guilty to assault chargers for assaulting the Arsenal goal – keeper, Aaron Ramsdale, during the end of a game back in January of 2023.
Ramsdale was apparently kicked in the back of his head not long following Arsenal defeated their English Premier League rival in Tottenham Hotspur 2 to 0 in the north London derby in EPL play.
The Culprit
Joseph Watts made his pled guilty on Friday, February 17th, 2023 at Uxbridge Magistrates Court to 3 – total charges that includes assault by beating.
Watts is a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur, and he was also provided a community – service order as well as he was instructed to pay Ramsdale 100 – pounds ($120) in damage compensation.
Watts managed to climb over a people – blocking barrier prior to kicking the goal – keeper, who had gone in back of one of the nets at the legendary and historic Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in order to pick up his water bottle.
In a victim – impact statement read to the court by the footballerRamsdale he said that he saw a masseuse due to the fact that his back felt “heavy.”The goal – keeper in Ramsdale said he has also been wary of preventing such incidents from happening in the near future.
Watts has apologized to Ramsdale and both clubs.
“He takes full responsibility for those actions, which were deplorable and which no football player should ever have to endure from a fan,” the Football Law Associates attorney, Robert Perkins, who represented Watts, said through a recently released statement. “He accepts the punishment of the court and now wishes to move on with his life.”
Aaron Ramsdale’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards
England U – 19
- UEFA European Under – 19 Championship: 2017
England U – 21
- Toulon Tournament: 2018
England
- UEFA European Championship Runner – Up: 2020
Individual
- AFC Bournemouth Supporters’ Player of the Year Award Winner: 2019 – 2020
- Sheffield United Player of the Year Award Winner: 2020 – 2021
- Sheffield United Young Player of the Year Award Winner: 2020 – 2021
Sources:
The Associated Press News Services. “Fan sentenced for kicking Arsenal goalkeeper Ramsdale”. The Associated Press. Friday, February, 17, 2023.
Football Reference News Services. “Aaron Ramsdale”. Football Reference. Saturday, February 18, 2023.