Manchester City fan gets three year ban after Rio row
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Police officers remove a supporter who ran on the pitch and tried to reach Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand during their English Premier League soccer match against Manchester City at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northern England on Dec 9, 2012. The Manchester City fan has been banned from attending matches for three years. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON (AFP) - A Manchester City fan who confronted Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand on the Eastlands pitch in an ugly incident following last month's Premier League clash has been banned from attending matches for three years.
Matthew Stott, 21, had to be restrained by City goalkeeper Joe Hart as he tried to reach Ferdinand, who was already bleeding from a cut caused by a coin thrown from the stands.
Ferdinand had been celebrating Robin van Persie's late goal, which gave United a 3-2 win over their bitter rivals, when tempers boiled over.
Television footage of the incident was played at Manchester Magistrates Court showing Stott, who had been drinking heavily before kick-off, trying to get at the United defender.
