Three year banning order for man who racially abused Manchester City fan
It happened during the game against Chelsea at the Etihad in November 2019
A man from Nottinghamshire has been found guilty of shouting racial abuse at a Manchester City v Chelsea game at the Etihad stadium back in November 2019.
28-year-old Anthony Crump, of Hereford Close in Worksop, was convicted on Wednesday at Tameside Magistrates Court of intentional racially aggravated harassment, alarm and distress, and handed a three-year football banning order, as well as being ordered to pay a £1,700 fine.
During the match on Saturday 23 November 2019, Crump, who is a Chelsea supporter, engaged in a rivalry exchange with a Manchester City supporter. It was during this exchange, that Crump referred to the City supporter using a racial slur, which the City supporter then reported to a steward.
The exchange then continued, and the racial slur repeated again, this time witnessed by a steward deployed on the segregation line and another Manchester City supporter. Following delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a trial took place where both witnesses gave evidence, and Crump was found guilty.
Police Constable Matt Ford from the Special Operations Branch said:
"Crump has a history of poor behaviour concerning football, and his actions towards a fellow football fan during what should have been an enjoyable game are shocking and unacceptable.
"No member of society should have to face abuse - and this applies for anyone, regardless of sporting rivalry.
"With fans hopefully continuing to return to stadiums in the coming weeks and months, this conviction is a reminder to anyone who thinks of engaging in such intolerable abuse that we will work robustly to prosecute perpetrators of hate crime and bring them to some justice.
'We would like to thank the victim, and witnesses in this instance, who gave evidence to support this successful prosecution. Racist behaviour at football events will not be tolerated, and every effort will be made to place individuals, who commit such offences, before the courts."