OF ALL the weird excuses I have ever heard the explanation for the ‘racist’ banana throwing incident at the Emirates during the Brazil v Scotland match has to be right up there with the best.
Apparently the said piece of fruit that arrived on the playing area in the vicinity of Brazilian goal hero Neymar was launched by a German tourist – which apparently is okay.
A statement from host club Arsenal said: “A German teenage tourist has admitted throwing a banana on to the pitch. The Metropolitan Police is satisfied there was no racist intent and have confirmed that no further action will be taken.”
Aside from adding fuel to the fire by doing the obvious racial stereotyping and pointing out that it obviously wasn’t a Scot as it was fresh fruit and not deep fried (Frankie Boyle for some reason can get away with gags like these), to me this raises a number of interesting points.
Firstly, in all the years I have been attending football matches I can honestly say I have never taken fresh fruit along to a game (though this might say more about my poor diet).
Secondly, I have also never felt the urge to hurl any object on to the field of play.
So I am amazed to discover that German tourists think nothing of attending football matches to indiscriminately throw the contents of their fruit bowl on to the grass – though I suppose I really shouldn't knock it until I’ve tried it!
But it does kind of give anyone who can claim tourist status carte blanche to have fun hurling things on to the field of play – so excuse me while I book a flight to Paris for the next France home game (by the way do snails need individual tickets for the flight?)
