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Cambridge fan given three-year banning order and £100 fine over monkey gestures




A Cambridge United supporter who was caught on CCTV making monkey gestures towards Peterborough striker Ricky-Jade Jones has received a three-year football banning order and a £100 fine.

Ryan Asplen was arrested at Cambridge’s away game at the Weston Homes Stadium on November 9, 2024, having been removed from the stands by stewards.

Asplen was in the front row when Posh forward Jones was tackled and fell to the ground, where he remained for several seconds, with the 19-year-old signalling for him to get up, before making monkey gestures.

Appearing at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on 17 January, Asplen, of Bush Close, Comberton, pleaded guilty to committing a racially aggravated public order offence and was handed a three-year football banning order as well as a £100 fine.

The order states he is banned from attending any football match within the UK, and when a match is held outside of the UK, he must report to a police station and surrender any travel documents, such as a passport.

Other conditions also apply in relation to personal circumstances such as police being informed of any change in address. Any breach of the order may result in imprisonment, a fine or both.

U’s chief executive Alex Tunbridge confirmed the club were also considering additional sanctions for Asplen once his FBO had been served.

“Cambridge United condemns the actions of this so-called supporter in the strongest possible terms,” Tunbridge said in a statement on Tuesday (21 January) morning.

“He does not represent the club. We have been working with the police since the game and completely support the implementation of his three-year football banning order.

“We are a family club which works hard to create an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome.

“We will not tolerate any actions from anyone who seeks to jeopardise this, so we will be considering additional club sanctions following the conclusion of this football banning order.”

Detective Sergeant Matt Lauch said: “Through joint working with partners, including both clubs and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), we were able to take swift action and put Asplen before the courts.

“I would like to thank the two members of the public who reported this via the Posh text service after seeing it while watching the match on television.

“I hope this sends out a strong message – football matches should be enjoyable and safe events for families to attend, as well as for the players, and behaviour such as this will not be tolerated. We will seek to prosecute where offences have been committed and implement FBOs where appropriate.”




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