Manchester City fan banned for racially abusing Raheem Sterling
Friday 10 January 2020 18:21, UK
A Manchester City fan has been banned from football matches for five years for racially abusing Raheem Sterling.
Ian Baldry, 58, from Bradford, has also been sentenced to 200 hours of community service after he admitted using racist language while celebrating a Sterling goal against Bournemouth in December 2018.
Baldry told Manchester Magistrates' Court he had been excited and since regretted using the language.
Sterling did not hear the comment at the time, although it was heard by a number of supporters, the court was told.
A second defendant, James Ross McConnell, pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence and assault during the same incident.
He was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, a five-year football banning order and will be required to do 250 hours of community service.
"Following the sentencing of Ian Baldry and James McConnell at Manchester Magistrates' Court and in line with Manchester City's zero tolerance approach to discrimination, lifetime bans have been issued by the club," a Manchester City statement read.
"The club would like to thank Manchester City supporters for reporting both incidents and their co-operation throughout the investigations."
On Thursday, Italian police handed a five-year football banning order to a 38-year-old who was found guilty of initiating racist chants towards Mario Balotelli in a Serie A game between Hellas Verona and Brescia in November.
