A Barcelona fan has been banned from football stadiums in Spain after firing a fake gun in Saturday’s Catalan derby against Espanyol.
Jose Manuel Perez Diaz – who was sitting amongst the home fans – fired two blank rounds at Espanyol supporters whilst celebrating the opening goal before being wrestled to the ground by two off-duty police officers seated near him.
"I had a fake gun. I didn't put anyone in danger but I regret doing it," the 53-year-old told El Periodico.
"Some radical fans of Espanyol didn't like my celebration. They were close and started to throw insults at me. I remember a group of about 40 jumping from their zone into mine. They were coming for me.
"I feared for my life and took out the gun. I pointed it at them and shot two times. Because they were blanks, nobody was hurt. But nobody knew that and they fled.
"The people around me were scared, then security guards came and got me and took me down a corridor next to a bar, where the police were.
"They checked my backpack, but they didn't pat me down, I had the gun in my waistband.
“Now I have to present myself [to the police] twice month and have a public order to keep me away from football stadiums and public spectacles."
