Barry Rogerson is the proud owner of a mean overhand right.
We’ve known this since Sunday, when he was caught on video punching a police horse during a soccer riot in Newcastle, England. But Rogerson thinks the world should know that he is an animal lover who owns three dogs. He’s also “disgusted” by his actions, according to the BBC.
The 45-year-old was part of a throng of Newcastle United fans who watched the game in downtown bars. Once the 3-0 result was confirmed, many took to the streets looking to attack Sunderland fans as they were heading out of Newcastle’s St. James’ Park under a heavy police escort.
Police were able to keep the Newcastle fans at bay, but only after several violent clashes. Many fans threw bottles and other objects at the police, but Rogerson had other ideas.
He was seen standing his ground as one officer on a police horse came toward him. He punched the horse once in the nose before other officers wrestled him to the ground. On Wednesday, the former factory manager spoke about the incident.
“It’s all a nightmare,” he said. “I came out of the pub … then we were in the middle of all these horses and all of a sudden I was stuck in the middle of it all.
“Somebody set a rocket off, or a banger or something and it spooked the horses. The next thing I knew, the horse came running at me and I instantly reacted, stupidly and wrongly.
“What I think I did, because it all happened so quickly, I think I went to stop it with my left hand on its neck and I’ve punched it in the nose and I was stupid. I panicked and it was just an instant reaction, I wasn’t intending to hurt the horse.”
Rogerson was one 29 people who were arrested. Four officers were injured during the riot. Bud the horse was fine.
Watch Rogerson punch the police horse in the video below.
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Photo via Twitter/@rogbennett
