Joseph Watts, 35, pleads guilty to assaulting Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale after north London derby
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Tottenham fan, 35, pleads guilty to assaulting Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale after police accused a fan of kicking the goalkeeper after the north London derby against Tottenham
- Joseph Watts from Hackney was charged by police after the incident last month.
- After Arsenal’s victory over their bitter rivals, Ramsdale was sent off for a supporter.
- Watts pleaded guilty to assault by beating at Highbury Magistrates Court on Friday
A 35-year-old man has pleaded guilty to assaulting Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale after the north London derby against Tottenham last month.
Hackney’s Joseph Watts was charged by police after Ramsdale was kicked by a supporter following Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Tottenham on January 15.
On Friday, Watts appeared at Highbury Magistrates Court, where he pleaded guilty to assault and battery.
After last month’s match, Tottenham said it was appalled by the attack and would work “to take the strongest possible measures, including an immediate ban from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.”
The Premier League club then worked with the Metropolitan Police’s football investigations team to help identify Watts, who scrambled onto the pitch to kick Ramsdale full-time.
A 35-year-old man has pleaded guilty to assaulting Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale
Hackney’s Joseph Watts admitted to attacking Ramsdale after Tottenham’s loss to Arsenal
After helping his team to a crucial victory, the Arsenal player was greeted by fans as he went to retrieve his bottle behind the goal.
Watts, who was wearing a scarf over his mouth in an attempt to hide his identity, lashed out and appeared to contact Ramsdale, who admitted the incident left him with a “sour taste” after his Man of the Match display.
“The Spurs fans gave me something throughout the game,” he said. I was returning something. The people I gave it to greeted it sportily, but one fan tried to punch me in the back.
‘It’s a shame as it’s just a football match at the end of the day. Both sets of players tried to take me, but luckily nothing too drastic happened.
“It has a bitter taste, but I’m sure we’ll enjoy it when we get back in the locker room.”
The FA strongly condemned the incident and stressed that such behavior is ‘totally unacceptable’.
The governing body said: “We strongly condemn the incident involving a bystander following today’s Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.”
“This is totally unacceptable behavior and we will work together with the police, the relevant authorities and the clubs to ensure that appropriate action is taken.”
Temperatures rose inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Arsenal built a two-goal lead at the half-time break.
Ramsdale denied Tottenham striker Harry Kane towards the end of the first half and also made a series of vital saves to help Arsenal maintain their Premier League title bid.
Referee Craig Pawson largely controlled the spirited derby, but tensions came to a head late in the match.
As Ramsdale gestured to the home fans, Watts pounced on several rows of seats and appeared to kick him as he swung over the barriers, before running again into a sea of Tottenham supporters.
