A FOUL-mouthed amateur footballer who subjected a referee to a torrent of racist abuse has been jailed.

Wasar Ahmed, 23, hurled a string of offensive remarks and expletives at Ian Fraser during a 20-minute rant when he totally ‘lost it’ during a match in Burnley, the town’s crown court heard.

Ahmed told the victim: “I’m going to break every white bone in your white face”, and: “I’m going to burn your white house down and kill your wife and kids”, after he got sent off.

Ahmed, who repeatedly refused to give his name to the referee, later stood staring at the victim when he went to his car.

The hearing was told Mr Fraser had never known anything like it during his 20 years’ refereeing, felt intimidated and was left extremely shocked. He feared further trouble because of the threats.

Ahmed was subject to a prison term of 32 weeks, suspended for 12 months, for assault causing actual bodily harm at the time.

The jobless defendant, of Vincit Street, Burnley, had admitted racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress, in breach of the suspended term.

Judge Graham Knowles, QC, slammed Ahmed’s conduct as ‘quite outrageous’, ‘deeply offensive’ and ‘profoundly unpleasant’, and told him referees were entitled to the protection of the courts.

He jailed him for eight weeks and activated eight weeks of the suspended sentence to run concurrently.

Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, said Mr Fraser was officiating in an East Lancashire Football League game between Daneshouse FC and Prairie Utd last December.

Ahmed felt the referee should have acted upon something which happened in the match and became abusive to him.

The victim asked to speak to him but Ahmed refused and was abusive. The referee had to ask the manager to assist so he could red card Ahmed. Miss Dacre said Ahmed remained on the edge of the pitch and threatened Mr Fraser.

Ahmed walked away, ranting and shouting, and said: “I know where you live. I’m going to come and find your house in Padiham.”

The prosecutor said Mr Fraser felt Ahmed’s outburst was in the heat of moment, despite it being prolonged. At the time, he was worried about the threats, although nothing further happened and he still referees.

The defendant admitted losing his temper. Richard Taylor, for Ahmed, said: “He was upset and frustrated and says he had let his team mates down. The defendant has played football against the referee since then and there have been no problems.”