Man pleads guilty to assaulting Arsenal goalkeeper Ramsdale at Tottenham


A man has admitted assaulting Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale at the end of a match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last month.

Ramsdale, 24, was kicked in the back shortly after his side beat Spurs 2-0 in a Premier League game on 15 January.

On Friday, Tottenham supporter Joseph Watts pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating.

The 35-year-old, from Hackney in east London, also admitted going on to an area adjacent to the playing area, and throwing a missile on to a football playing area.

Ramsdale had been celebrating his team's victory and collecting his belongings from behind the goal when he was attacked, Uxbridge Magistrates' Court heard.

Watts ran down the stairs towards the field.

He climbed over a barrier and on to an advertising banner, kicking Ramsdale, who had his back to Watts, before the Spurs fan ran away.

Ramsdale, in a statement read to the court, said: "I've never had someone enter the pitch and kick me.

"I don't think it's acceptable that I should be assaulted at work.

The England international said he had seen a masseuse because his back felt "heavy", but there were no visible injuries.

Watts also threw four coins towards the pitch, the court was told.

He told magistrates he had been drunk - having had six pints earlier in the day.

The hearing has been adjourned until later today.

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