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Liverpool Fan Jailed For ‘Racist’ Gesture at Match
January 29, 2012

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London. British police said they arrested a man late on Saturday in connection with an alleged racist gesture made at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium during the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Manchester United.

An image of a man apparently making a monkey gesture in the stands spread widely on social networking Web sites and a number of complaints were made to police after the match, which ended in a 2-1 Liverpool win.

The game was the first between the fierce rivals since Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was given an eight-match ban after a Football Association inquiry found him guilty of racially abusing United captain Patrice Evra.

A police spokeswoman said: “Merseyside Police can confirm that a 59-year-old man from North Wales has been arrested this evening following an alleged incident at the LFC versus MUFC match this afternoon.

“The man has been taken to a police station and will be questioned by officers.”

Before the match, the stadium announcer warned supporters that racist behavior would not be tolerated.

Evra, a French international defender who was born in Senegal, was loudly booed by Liverpool fans throughout the match.

A total of 17 people were ejected from Anfield either before or during the match.

In another high-profile Cup fixture, Anton Ferdinand was spared having to decide whether to give John Terry a pre-match handshake on Saturday after the FA allowed Queen’s Park Rangers and Chelsea to forego the traditional ritual before their match.

The match, which Chelsea won 1-0, was the West London rivals’ first meeting since Chelsea captain Terry was alleged to have racially abused Ferdinand during a league match in October.

Terry was investigated by police and faces a criminal charge over the incident. He will appear in court on Wednesday.

“The FA agreed to the request by both clubs in an attempt to further defuse tensions before the match,” the FA said in a statement, adding that it made the decision “following discussions on Friday evening and Saturday morning involving senior officials from QPR, Chelsea and the FA.”

The teams issued a joint statement this week appealing for calm at Loftus Road, but police opened an investigation on Friday after Ferdinand was reportedly sent a package containing a bullet.

Fans were searched by police on their way into the match and Terry was taunted throughout by the Loftus Road crowd.

AP, AFP