Stripping England fan exposed as millionaire businessman
Alessandro Diamanti scores the winning penalty for Italy in its Euro 12 match against England in Kyiv. Photo: Getty Images
The England fan who exposed himself in a vain bid to distract Italy’s Alessandro Diamanti as he took the decisive penalty in their Euro 2012 quarter-final penalty shootout says he has no regrets.
Tim O’Leary, a 35-year-old multimillionaire who has a trading company in London, told The Sun he would do anything to see England win. But Diamanti coolly slotted the penalty home for a 4-2 win on penalties.
“I was just trying to do my bit,” O’Leary said.
“It was a spur of the moment thing. I’d do anything to see England win, but sadly it didn’t work.”
O’Leary, who was standing behind the goal where the penalties were being taken and decided to lower his trousers as Diamanti stepped up, said he had paid for the effort physically, having run from one end of the stadium in Kyiv to the other to be in the perfect position.
“I ran because I knew we were going to lose and I wanted to try and put the guy off,” he said.
“I did it wearing shin pads, football boots, you name it. The blisters on my feet are absolutely killing.”
O’Leary got the stamp of approval from his wife, Klara, who watched the game on TV as she is eight months pregnant with twins.
“She found it very, very funny,” he said.
AFP