Chelsea fan banned for three years after admitting using homophobic abuse at Brighton

A 20-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress and was also fined £965

A Chelsea supporter who admitted to using homophobic language in the stands during the club’s away fixture at Brighton on 16 December has been banned for three years.

Twenty-year-old George Bradley pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress and was also fined £965.

Sussex Police’s football policing officer Darren Balkham said: “This was a great example of the stewarding and policing operation at the stadium taking action when incidents occur.

“I would urge any supporter attending the Amex to report these incidents to either a steward or police officer to allow us to take action at the time.”

The fixture at Brighton, won 2-1 by Chelsea, came after the club condemned a “brainless” section of fans for shaming the club in the wake of four front row supporters being banned from attending matches after they were caught on camera racially abusing Raheem Sterling.

Then, just days later in the Europa League away at MOL Vidi, away supporters were heard chanting antisemitic slurs. ​