Football fan with Down’s syndrome attacked by supporter for ‘wearing Crystal Palace shirt'
A FOOTBALL fan with Down’s syndrome was brutally attacked by a boozed-up thug because he was wearing a Crystal Palace shirt.
Dan White was brutally attacked by a rival supporter
Dan White, 22, was abused by a alcohol-fuelled Brighton fan as he made his way down a flight of stairs at a train station with his father.
The avid Eagles fan managed to avoid serious injury by clinging onto a handrail to stop a nasty fall.
The heartless attack on the disabled man has been condemned by his father, Bob, who called the depraved attacker an “idiot”.
He said: “I am absolutely shocked and appalled that something like this could happen.
"We were just returning peacefully from the match when suddenly Dan was attacked without warning."
The father and son, who regularly watch their beloved Palace, were travelling home from watching their side beat Stoke City 2-1 at Selhurst Park.
Dan and father Bob regularly travel to Palace matches
They passed through Haywards Heath station in West Sussex at the same time a Brighton fan was travelling back from their 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough which saw the Seagulls miss out on promotion to the Premier League.
Dan then became separated from his father and carer as large crowds gathered at the station.
His father said the malicious attack happened to his son because he was “an easy target”.
The man shouted some foul, threatening words into his face and then shoved him as well
The former Palace coach Bob added: "I can only imagine Dan was targeted because he was an easy target.
"I don’t know whether the man recognised he had a disability but at 5ft 2in tall, he is smaller in stature than most and so was easy to pick on.
"The man shouted some foul, threatening words into his face and then shoved him as well.”
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Bob White has launched an appeal for the sick attacker to step forward
Bob also took to Twitter to blast the “drunk” thug.
He said: "Just had my son assaulted at the station by a Brighton fan returning from Boro because Dan was wearing a Palace shirt.”
"The man must have been disgruntled because of the result of his match and heard our group all singing and happy because we had won.
"He then just went for Dan. Luckily apart from being very shocked and a bit shaken, he was okay."
The father of three has called on the callous attacker to come forward.