An English professional golfer has pleaded guilty to making Nazi salutes at a Europa League game at West Ham United's London Stadium.
Daniel Garner, 26, appeared before magistrates in Stratford. He admitted making the gestures towards supporters of Rapid Vienna when the Austrian side played The Hammers in a Europa League clash on September 30, 2021.
As a result, Garner, who played in three tour events last year, was fined £166. He was also issued with a banning order that will stop him from attending matches in England and Wales for the next three years. Nosheen Hussain, from the Crown Prosecution Service, described Garner's conduct as "insulting and inciteful." She also revealed that Garner attributed his behaviour to alcohol consumption.
"Football fans from any country should never have to tolerate abusive behaviour," said Hussain.
"The prosecution case included CCTV footage which clearly showed Garner making offensive Nazi salutes toward Austrian fans. During police interview, he claimed to be intoxicated but this is no excuse for such vile behaviour.
“The CPS will always aim to prosecute those who seek to cause harassment.” Garner, from Hornchuch in east London, cannot now attend any England matches and will be required to hand his passport over to the police when the national team plays abroad.
In 2021, Garner played the Orida Championship, The Eagle Orchid Scottish Masters, and the IFX Championship. However, he missed the cut on all three occasions.
He also played at Qualifying School, an event supported by Sky Sports. He finished one over par at Romford Golf Club, following rounds of 72 and 73.
The match in question was won 2-0 by West Ham, thanks to goals from Said Benrahma and Declan Rice. David Moyes' squad would eventually make the semi-finals, where they were beaten by Eintracht Frankfurt.
However, their campaign was marred by crowd incidents. In November, the club was charged after supporters threw items onto the pitch at their way tie in Genk.
As a result, Uefa ruled the London side could not have away fans when they played their return game against Vienna in Austria. More than 30 arrests were also made after supporters of both sides clashed before the semi-final second leg with Frankfurt.
The issue of crowd behaviour has been prominent in English football of late, following a number of pitch invasions, and unsavoury incidents, towards the tail-end of the season. It has led to EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch promising this week to impose tougher sanctions on supporters to enter onto the pitch.
