Football fan given ban for racially abusing player

A Burnley fan has been banned from football matches after racially abusing a Blackburn Rovers player at the East Lancashire derby.

Neil Jeffrey was heard shouting a racist slur towards striker Makhtar Gueye who had just been given a red card during the Championship match at Turf Moor in August, Lancashire Police said.

The incident, which happened in the Jimmy McIlroy stand was reported to Burnley Football Club, who informed the police.

The 61-year-old was given a three-year football banning order, fined £400, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £160.

Jeffrey, of Roe Greave Road, Oswaldtwistle, appeared at Blackburn Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to Racially Aggravated Public Order.

PC Byron Worrall said this behaviour had "no place in society" and officers would continue to work with football clubs to put people before the courts.

Burnley Football Club said they had "a zero-tolerance policy" regarding discrimination of any sort and would continue to enforce and support all efforts to "eradicate" that kind of behaviour.

"The club moved swiftly to assist in identifying the individual and stand together with the police and football authorities to make matches a safer place for all supporters," a spokesman added.

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