Raheem Sterling: Man City fans banned for racist abuse Published duration 10 January

image copyright AFP/Getty Images image caption Raheem Sterling was the subject of racial abuse, a court heard

Two Manchester City supporters have been banned from football matches for five years for racially abusing Raheem Sterling.

Ian Baldry, 58, pleaded guilty to using racist language after Sterling scored in a Premier League match against Bournemouth in December 2018.

Baldry, of Bradford, told Manchester Magistrates' Court he had been excited and since regretted using the language.

His friend James McConnell, 57, also admitted making racist remarks.

McConnell, 57, of Levenshulme in Manchester, admitted racially abusing stewards as well as the Bournemouth player Tyrone Mings during the same match.

The men were reported to police by a fan who was at the game.

McConnell was described as being abusive and drunk throughout the first half and regularly insulted the players using foul language, Greater Manchester Police said.

In a witness statement one supporter told police "it was disgusting in this day and age that this was going on".

He added: "I was shocked and offended and felt sick to my stomach when I heard it."

'Zero tolerance approach'

England attacker Sterling did not hear the comment at the time, although it was heard by a number of supporters, the court was told.

Passing sentence, Judge John Temperely told Baldry there was an increasing "prevalence of this kind of offence".

"The kind of language used by you and (your) co-accused risks wider public disorder in matches and could encourage others to behave in the same way," he said.

Both men pleaded guilty to causing racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress.

Baldry was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service, while McConnell was told to complete 250 hours of unpaid work in the community.

In a statement, Manchester City said the pair had been handed lifetime bans by the club "in line with Manchester City's zero tolerance approach to discrimination".

"The club would like to thank Manchester City supporters for reporting both incidents and their co-operation throughout the investigations," it added.