Fans banned over offensive chants

A total of 11 men, including three juveniles, appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court in connection with alleged racist and homophobic chanting.

The charges followed chanting aimed at Portsmouth Football Club defender Sol Campbell during a match against Tottenham Hotspur at Fratton Park, Portsmouth, on September 28 last year.

The court was told that the chants relate to bitterness by Tottenham fans at Campbell for leaving for north London rivals Arsenal before he then moved to Portsmouth.

Richard Gibbs, 36, of Ormonde Road, Wokingham, Berkshire, Stuart Turner, 34, of Queen Street, Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, Oliver Silvester, 28, of High Street, Southampton, and Keith Stevens, 54, of Portland Close, Hailsham, East Sussex, all pleaded guilty to indecent chanting, an offence under the Football Offences Act 1991.

They were sentenced to a three-year football banning order, fined £370, ordered to pay £120 costs and to pay £15 to a victim surcharge fund.

Magistrate Susan Waddle said: "There were families present, very young children. We also heard from witnesses who found the behaviour disgusting and embarrassing.

"No doubt you are upright members of society, but in there you acted like animals, like a herd. This was well-rehearsed - everyone was in sync, everyone knew the words - it was not something that just happened on the day.

"Whether or not Mr Campbell was offended, decent members of the public found this very offensive and so did the bench. Anyone who indulges in this disgusting behaviour will be dealt with very severely by the courts."

A trial date for the seven defendants who pleaded not guilty was set for May 13 at the same court.