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.
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 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,
"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," j
Best way to silence the haters (and yeah I mean racists) #2019 #getsomeeducation pic.twitter.com/ohhkOJtdey
— Raheem Sterling (@sterling7) March 25, 2019
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Source : 90min