A Chelsea supporter who racially abused Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur during a game at Stamford Bridge has been issued a stadium ban.
On August 14, during a 2-2 Premier League match, Thomas Burchell, 30, of Croydon, south London, made a racial gesture toward a South Korean striker who was attempting to take a corner.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) reported that he had been charged with a racially aggravating public order offense.
At the City of London Magistrates’ Court, Burchell was fined £726; the CPS claimed that the amount was raised to reflect the offense’s racially aggravating component.
An order prohibiting him from going to live football games for three years was also given.After pictures of the incident were posted on social media and submitted to Kick it Out, an organization dedicated to combating racism in football, Chelsea was able to identify Burchell.
When challenged by the evidence from the police, Burchell admitted making the gesture.
Senior crown prosecutor Kalsoom Shah said: “While racism is an extremely passionate sport, it will never be tolerated in football.”We will continue to urge anyone who witnesses or encounters this kind of behavior to report it to the police and help us rid football of racism since we know those who are responsible for it are a small minority.Burchell can no longer see his club play in person as a result of his provocative gesture.
“All types of hate crime will not be accepted,” said Lionel Idan, the top crown prosecutor for London South and the national hate crime lead.In situations where legal evaluations warrant it, prosecutors would “not hesitate to take offenders to court and seek tougher punishments so that justice is served,” according to him.
“Racist gestures and abuse are not merely upsetting; they stop other spectators and athletes from enjoying the sport and actually harm the essence of the game,” he stated.
