A football fan who racially abused a police officer at a match has been banned from attending any game for four years.

Ian Hardley made a highly offensive comment towards a PC at the Birmingham and Millwall fixture in April last year.

The 60-year-old from Kent was charged with a public order offence causing harassment, alarm or distress. He pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Monday (5 June) and was given a football banning order for four years.

He was also ordered to pay a total of £519 incorporating a fine, court costs and compensation.

A statement from the force, read: “There is no place for discrimination in football, or society in general, and we’ll seek to bring those involved before the courts to face punishment.”