Fan fined for racially abusing a non-league footballer during a game

A man has been sentenced for racially abusing a non-league footballer.

Robin Poole targeted Lye Town's Umaru Saho during the club's home match against Stourport Swifts on January 14 in Lye, near Stourbridge.

The abuse happened in the second half of the game in the Midland Football League Premier Division - the ninth tier of English football - according to Lye Town's Twitter account, which described it as "vile".

Poole appeared at Dudley Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with one count of racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment.

The 64-year-old, of Areley Court, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, was fined £250 and told to pay a further £235 in costs, compensation to Mr Saho and a victim surcharge, West Midlands Police said.

Pc Stuart Ward, the force's football hate crime officer, said:

"This conviction is important to show that hate crime isn't just a problem for premiership clubs and we will pursue offenders who racially abuse players at any level.

"The club played in the Midland Football League Premier Division last season and supported the prosecution which saw one of their players racially abused by an away supporter during a game."

Lye Town chairman Brian Blakemore said:

"It is important that any type of abuse in football is not tolerated and we will continue to pursue any incidents that occur and offer support to the victims involved."

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