Burnley fan hit with three-year ban after racially abusing Blackburn Rovers player
A Burnley fan who racially abused a Blackburn Rovers player during the East Lancashire Derby has been banned from attending football matches for three years.
Neil Jeffrey was heard shouting a racial slur towards Rovers' Makhtar Gueye during a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor on August 31 last year. The incident shortly after Gueye was shown a red card in the 57th minute.
Jeffrey, 61, was sat in the Jimmy McIlroy Stand when he was heard abusing the Senegalese striker and was subsequently reported to the home club, who informed police. Following enquiries, Jeffrey was identified and interviewed under caution.
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On Monday (January 27), Jeffrey, of Roe Greave Road, Oswaldtwistle, appeared at Blackburn Magistrates' Court and pleaded guilty to a racially-aggravated public order offence.
In addition to being handed a three-year Football Banning Order, Jeffrey was also fined £400, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £160.
PC Byron Worrall, of Lancashire Police, said: “Behaviour of this nature has no place in society and will not be tolerated by Lancashire Police, Blackburn Rovers and Burnley football clubs or the courts. If you do decide to behave in this abhorrent way, Lancashire Police will work with Blackburn Rovers and Burnley football clubs to identify you and put you before the courts.”
A Burnley FC spokesperson said: “Burnley Football Club has a zero-tolerance policy regarding discrimination of any sort and will continue to enforce and support all efforts to eradicate this 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 Blackburn Rovers FC spokesperson said: “Blackburn Rovers totally endorse the message from Lancashire Police that society and football will not tolerate this horrendous behaviour and we will continue to all stand together against any form of racism within our football stadiums.”