Football fan with ' immature and outdated viewers' faces jail for racially abusing rival player
31.10.2023 - 14:41
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A convicted football thug with 'immature and outdated- views racially abused a rival player during a match. Bryan Ferguson, 23, shouted at Forest Green Rovers' Jordan Garrick "fill that f****** **** in" as the forward tussled with a Fleetwood Town opponent during a League One match on April 18 this year.
The racially abusive language was heard by other Forest Green players and stewards at the New Lawn. Ferguson, a Tranmere Rovers supporter, was quickly apprehended by security and, when he was arrested by the police, gave officers false details. Gloucestershire Magistrates’ Court heard Ferguson of Barberry Crescent, Netherton, only admitted his real identity after he was arrested.
A check of the police national computer revealed he was subject of a five-year football banning order imposed in 2019 for pitch invasion and was prohibited from attending any matches. He is currently banned from coming within 500m of any designated football stadium in a period of up to four hours before kick-off, during the match and up to four hours afterwards.
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Kirsty Drew, prosecuting, told the court Garrick was left shaken at being on the receiving end of the abuse. She told the court that Garrick said: "At the time I thought his behaviour was really stupid and embarrassing that he would say something so stupid. I was shocked and disgusted to hear something so racist being shouted at me."
Ms Drew said Ferguson had now breached his football banning order eight times and the Crown would be applying