A 41-YEAR-OLD Polish man who inadvertently found himself in the Blackburn end for the FA Cup game against West Ham attracted the attention of stewards when he cheered a goal by the visitors.

Blackburn magistrates heard Tomasz Garbaty, who needed an interpreter in court, was told by a steward he would have to move but in the confrontation he threw a punch at the steward.

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Garbaty, 41, of Honetymere Court, Barnsley, admitted assaulting Jason Sledden.

He was fined £200 with £100 compensation, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. The magistrates did not make a football banning order.

Elliot Taylforth, prosecuting, said when West Ham scored Garbaty stood up and cheered.

“When that happens in the home end the stewards become nervous,” said Mr Taylforth.

“The steward explained he should be in the away part of the ground and asked him to leave his seat. He stood up and started shouting in Polish, waving his arms about. He tried to push past the steward and then threw a punch, which connected with his face.”

Mr Taylforth said there was an explanation for why a man from Barnsley was attending a match between Blackburn and West Ham.

“He had originally expected Blackburn to be playing Liverpool, who he wanted to watch,” he said.

Imran Hussain, defending, said there had been a misunderstanding about which match his client was going to see and there was a misunderstanding over what the steward required.

“Cheering a goal by the visitors when he was sitting in the home end wasn’t the wisest thing to do,” said Mr Hussain.

“He was confronted by the steward who he says put a hand out to stop the defendant going past. It was at that point he threw a punch.”