Racist remarks see ban for footie fan

A FOOTBALL hooligan who ruined an 11-year-olds first match has today been banned from future games.

Adam Coulling shouted obscenities and racist remarks all the way through the Ipswich versus Portsmouth game at Portman Road on January 5, South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard.

Lesla Small, prosecuting said that Coulling stood behind a man in the North Stand who had attended the match with his girlfriend and his 11-year-old nephew who has never been to a proper game before.

The fan complained to stewards that 18-year-old Coulling of Eastern Way, Elmswell shouted foul language at the top of his voice.

Ms Small said the abuse escalated from the Ipswich fan's “booing” whenever a Portsmouth player had the ball to Coulling shouting racist abuse at Sol Campbell. She said the witness felt “intimidated and scared” by Coulling and was “appalled” by his language.

Ms Small said: “In the second half there was more swearing and more racist abuse towards the football players.

“The witness plucked up the courage to say to Mr Coulling 'if you say something like that again I will have you thrown out of the ground'.”

Coulling then sat down and stopped swearing.

He pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment and apologised for his behaviour. He told police he was drunk at the time.

Roger Stewart mitigating, said his client was due to start work at the Comet store in Bury St Edmunds but also wished to join the army.

District Judge David Cooper said: “The worst aspect of this is the young kid who hears all of this. The 11-year-old was no doubt excited about this first football match and then he hears this sort of thing.”

He banned Coulling from attending any regulated football match for three years.

Coulling was fined £250 and told to pay £80 towards court costs.

Judge Cooper added: “If you breach the football banning order it is an extremely serious offence and you will almost certainly go to prison.”