Spurs fan ordered to pay compensation to Ramsdale over assault

A 35-year-old man has been ordered to pay compensation to Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale after assaulting him at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the end of the north London derby. Ramsdale, 24, was kicked in the back shortly after the Gunners beat Tottenham 2-0 in a Premier League match on 15 January. Joseph Watts pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court to assault by beating, going on to an area adjacent to the playing area and throwing a missile on to a football playing area.

Watts, a Tottenham supporter, was handed a 12-month community order, made to pay £100 in compensation to Ramsdale and will have to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. He also received a four-year football banning order, meaning he cannot attend matches. Deputy District Judge A King, sentencing on Friday, said the assault was "relatively short-lived, comprising a single blow".

Mr King went on: "When individuals lose self-control it can have a ripple effect, in this case there could have been a significant risk of serious public order." He added: "It has had some psychological effect and he (Ramsdale) will have this in the back of his mind when he goes to work in the future." The court heard Ramsdale had been celebrating the victory and collecting his bottle from behind the goal when he was attacked. Watts, a pub worker, ran down the stairs from where he was sitting, climbed over a barrier and on to an advertising banner before kicking Ramsdale, who was turned away from him. He then ran back into the stands.