Manchester City ban two fans for life after racist comments against Raheem Sterling

Two Manchester City supporters have received five-year football banning orders from the courts and lifetime bans from the Premier League title holders after they admitted using racist language.

Ian Baldry, 58, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, made a racist comment towards City winger Raheem Sterling as he celebrated scoring a goal in a Premier League home game against Bournemouth in December 2018.

His friend, James McConnell, 57, of Newdale Road, Manchester, was heard making racist remarks about two match stewards at the same game at the Etihad Stadium.

Witnesses described McConnell as being drunk and abusive throughout the first half and regularly using foul language to insult the players on the pitch, said Greater Manchester Police.

He went on to make a comment about the race of a Bournemouth player, reportedly defender Tyrone Mings.

A fellow fan confronted McConnell about his behaviour and later reported him to stewards.

McConnell was also spotted shouting similar comments at a City player who took a corner at a home game against Newcastle two months earlier, said police.

On Friday, both men were sentenced at Manchester Magistrates’ Court after they pleaded guilty to causing racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress.

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