Racist online trolls to get 10 year football bans

Vile racist language and abuse used online in relation to football could see offenders banned from all stadiums in England and Wales for a decade.

The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has announced the plans as a continuation of the crackdown on online hate abuse.

Under the proposed legislation, football banning orders, which currently can be imposed on those convicted of violence, disorder and racist or homophobic chanting, will be extended to cover online offences.

It comes after England players Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho suffered abhorrent online abuse after missing penalties in the Euro 2020 final.

Boris Johnson pledged after that game to crackdown on online abuse and this new law will be attached as an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, to be brought forward ‘early in the new year.’

Priti Patel said: “This summer we saw the beautiful game marred by disgraceful racism from online trolls, who hid behind their keyboards and abused our footballers. Racism is unacceptable and for too long football has been marred by this shameful prejudice.

“Those responsible for appalling racist abuse online must be punished. The changes to the law I am announcing will make sure they are banned from attending football matches.”

Football banning orders are issued either following conviction for a football-related offence or following a complaint by a local police force, British Transport Police or the Crown Prosecution Service.

Breaching a football banning order is punishable by a maximum six month prison term, an unlimited fine or both.

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