A FOOTBALL fan has been convicted of shouting racial abuse during a match and banned from attending fixtures for three years.
Nathan Sprengel appeared before magistrates and was convicted of a racially aggravated offence under Section 5 of the Public Order Act.
Sprengel, of Woodfield Road, South Normanton, was arrested by officers investigating a report that a spectator shouted a racist insult at a player during a match between Kidderminster Harriers and Alfreton Town at the Harriers' Aggborough Stadium on February 23.
The 34-year-old, who pleaded guilty, was fined £470 by Chesterfield magistrates and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £47 and £85 costs. He was also banned from attending football matches for three years.
Derbyshire police football intelligence officer PC Roger Brown said: "We will not tolerate any form of disorder or racial abuse, whether it is football-related or not.
"I hope this football banning order reflects just how seriously we take incidents such as these."