Newport County FC issued an official statement regarding a 40-year-old found guilty of racist chanting earlier in the season.
Mathew Wreford admitted to a racially aggravated public order offence on 20th November 2019. Magistrates issued Wreford a £240 fine, ordered him to pay costs. He was also given a football banning order.
The order sets in place four years where the 40-year-old cannot enter within 2,500 meters of any UK regulated football match. The terms of the banning order mean that Wreford must not be near any match in the preceding five hours. He also cannot be near five hours after the final whistle.
Newport County Lifetime Ban
Newport County have also given Wreford a lifetime ban from the football club and the ground. The club issued a statement on their website. Racism has been a big topic for many years in sport. Football particularly suffering from chanting from so-called supporters.
Football is trying to clean up this side of the sport with Kick it Out. Funded by the FA, the PFA and the premier league. Unfortunately, racism is still a problem. England faced this when playing Bulgaria
Stadium and lifetime bans are only the start. Football must continue to act on this ugly side of the game. Newport County have made a start, their statement reads as follows;
“Newport County AFC welcomes the court’s decision to impose a four-year football banning order on a person present in the home section, following an incident at our fixture at Rodney Parade earlier this season.”
“In addition to the court-imposed football banning order, this person will also receive a lifetime ban from Newport County AFC and Rodney Parade Stadium.
“Discrimination has no place in any area of society and these actions have absolutely no place at our football club or among our fan base, either. Anyone who behaves in this manner, whether it be at the stadium, or online will receive a similar consequence.
“NCAFC work tirelessly to create an inclusive, welcoming environment for all and we would like to remind all supporters of our current policies and advise everyone to always behave in a respectable manner.”
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