Newport County AFC has issued a lifetime ban to a supporter who was found guilty of racist abuse at one of its home games.
Matthew Wreford, 40, from Newport was handed a four-year general footballing ban after appearing at Newport Magistrates Court on January 31.
Wreford pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence, believed to have taken place at the FA Cup clash against Grimsby Town on November 20, 2019.
Following his sentence, Newport County and Rodney Parade Stadium have now also issued the fan a lifetime ban at the Welsh club.
A statement from the club yesterday said: “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.”
In addition to the ban, Mr Wreford was also fined £240, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £32 surcharge.
The incident is the latest in a series of racially aggravated incidents at football matches in recent times. Last week, a Bournemouth fan was banned for three years after pleading guilty to chanting racist abuse at a match against Tottenham Hotspur last year.
Newport County said the club “work tirelessly to create an inclusive, welcoming environment for all” and added that it wanted to “remind all supporters of our current policies and advise everyone to always behave in a respectable manner.”
