West Ham fan who performed Nazi salutes to Austrian supporters is banned from attending football matches for three years

A West Ham fan who performed Nazi salutes to Austrian supporters during an international game has been banned from attending football matches for three years.

Daniel Garner, 26, performed the antisemitic gestures during a Europa League game between West Ham United and Rapid Vienna at the London Stadium on 30 September.

Appearing at Stratford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, Mr Garner pleaded guilty to one count of using threatening or abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment or alarm or distress.

In addition to being subjected to a three-year football ban, Mr Garner was also fined £166.

Nosheen Hussain, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Football fans from any country should never have to tolerate abusive behaviour. Daniel Garner’s conduct was insulting and inciteful.

“The prosecution case included CCTV footage which clearly showed Garner making offensive Nazi salutes toward Austrian fans. During police interview [sic] 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.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Another football match, another instance of Nazi salutes. We applaud West Ham and the criminal justice authorities for identifying, prosecuting and sanctioning the culprit. Nazi gestures and antisemitism have no place in the beautiful game, and we call on other clubs to emulate this example of best practice, with fines and bans on all those responsible for injecting racism into sport.”

Last week, two West Ham supporters appeared in court on charges of racially aggravated harassment of a visibly Jewish man on a Ryanair flight last year.