Manchester City Fan Hit With 5-Year Ban for Racially Abusing Raheem Sterling

​A Manchester City fan has been banned from attending football matches for racially abusing winger Raheem Sterling during their 3-1 win over Bournemouth back in December 2018.

During the game, Sterling netted shortly after the hour mark to give his side a 2-1 lead and ran over to the fans to celebrate.

Manchester City v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League

As noted by the ​BBC, 58-year-old Ian Baldry used racist language to celebrate the goal. ​Sterling did not hear the incident in question, but numerous supporters informed stewards at the game, who in turn contacted the police.

Baldry, from Bradford, was hit with a five-year ban from attending any matches and also made to undertake 200 hours of community service as a punishment for his actions, which he insisted he regretted.

Tahir Ayub, who was defending Baldry, told the court (via ​Manchester Evening News): "He is one of Mr Baldry's favourite players, he says he would give him a hug and kiss him for scoring that goal.

FBL-ENG-PR-MAN CITY-BOURNEMOUTH

"He said it as a passionate comment during a celebration but he regretted it almost immediately after he said it."

During the same game, Baldry's friend, James McConell, was also found to have racially abused then-​Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings. McConell, who is from Manchester, is set to be sentenced later on Friday.


"The kind of language used by you and [your] co-accused risks wider public disorder in matches and could encourage others to behave in the same way," judge John Temperely told Baldry.

This is certainly not the only time that Sterling has been targeted by racist abuse. England's 5-1 win over Bulgaria in September 2019 was marred by racism directed towards Sterling and other England players, and the forward has long been incredibly vocal about the need to address racism in football.


He won an award for his work against racism in April last year, and he has continued to use his platform to try and eradicate the issue.


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Source : 90min