A Burnley FC supporter has been handed a football banning order after admitting to making a racist comment about an opposition player.

John Southwell, 64, posted a message on Facebook that was racist about Chelsea FC player Nicolas Jackson on December 11, 2023.

The post targeting the young Senegalese striker was made the day after Chelsea had lost 2-0 against Everton.

Southwell, who is a season ticket holder at Turf Moor, pleaded guilty to sending a message that was grossly indecent or offensive during a hearing at Blackburn Magistrates' Court on August 5.

During a further hearing on October 8, Southwell, of Dale Street, Earby, was handed a three-year football banning order and a £345 fine, with his punishment uplifted due to the hate element of his crime.

Following the hearing, John Moran, senior Crown prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “This case should be a stark reminder to so-called keyboard warriors: online actions have consequences.

“This type of social media offending will not be tolerated. Those who peddle hate, on or off the pitch, will be brought to justice.

“We work closely with the football authorities including the Premier League and the Football Association, police, clubs, and charities to stamp out incidents of discriminatory chanting.

“We are sending a clear message that there is no place for this vile behaviour and so-called fans who engage in it face the risk of being excluded from the game they claim to love.”

PC Byron Worrall, from Lancashire Police's East Division, added: “This case is unusual in that a football banning order has been issued for an offence committed away from an actual fixture and on social media.

“I welcome the sentence and hope it sends out a strong message that racist behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated by Lancashire Police, whether it be in public or while hiding behind a keyboard.”