A FOOTIE supporter is £70 out of pocket today after claiming he was trying to defuse a confrontation with a Norwich fan in Ipswich.Magistrates heard Liverpool supporter Alan Parris, of Surrey Road, Ipswich, went into the town centre to soak up the atmosphere before the England v Croatian international match at Portman Road.

A FOOTIE supporter is £70 out of pocket today after claiming he was trying to defuse a confrontation with a Norwich fan in Ipswich.

Magistrates heard Liverpool supporter Alan Parris, of Surrey Road, Ipswich, went into the town centre to soak up the atmosphere before the England v Croatian international match at Portman Road.

The 47-year-old was arrested after a fracas erupted between him and a Norwich fan as a crowd of Norfolk supporters gathered outside The Hogshead in Lloyds Avenue at 6pm on August 20 last year.

Parris denied threatening violence but was found guilty after a two-hour trial at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court and given to a year's conditional discharge.

Prosecutor Azza Brown said the town centre was busy with supporters and police because of the high profile match.

Pc Jason Winter was among those on patrol in the town centre as a football spotter, to keep an eye out for potential troublemakers during what he described as "one of the biggest operations Suffolk has ever undertaken."

Describing the altercation between Parris and the other man, Pc Winter, said: "I heard the men saying 'come on then'. They were waving their arms. It was a very aggressive, tense situation. Both men were beckoning each other on.

"Parris then kicked out at the other gentleman. To be fair the other gentleman kicked out in response."

The court heard both were arrested after the incident.

Magistrates were shown a video where a high profile police presence was seen in Lloyds Avenue as a crowd had gathered outside The Hogshead - other arrests were also made.

Parris took to the stand where he denied causing trouble saying the Norwich fan was making remarks, wrongly believing he was an Ipswich fan.

Parris said: "I crossed the road to go to The Cricketers. As I crossed the road I heard shouting. He (the other man) was shouting "Ipswich b*******." He kept going on.

"I pointed towards my tattoo. I said I'm a Liverpool, not an Ipswich fan. I'm come from Liverpool. I wanted to diffuse the situation.

"I thought he was going to come after me, that was why I showed him my tattoo. I was gobsmacked when I was arrested. I did not see what I had done wrong. He was beckoning and I was trying to calm the situation down."

Bench chairman Mike Osborne said Parris admitted making the remark and put in context the bench felt it would have caused fear of unlawful violence.

He also said Parris had crossed the road, knowing the Norwich supporters were outside The Hogshead. No football banning order was made.

Parris was ordered to pay £70 costs.