Steven Candy banned from football over racist abuse at St Mary's

Season ticket holder Steven Candy aimed racial abuse at owner Gao Jisheng during a Premier League match against Chelsea.

The 44-year-old also targeted travelling away fans using derogatory terms towards supporters of both Polish and Pakistani backgrounds.

Fellow Saints supporters reported Candy to the club and officials forwarded the complaints to the police.

This week Candy, from Eastleigh, was given a three-year Football Banning Order at Southampton Magistrates’ Court.

The order stops him from attending any regulated football match in this country and abroad.

The court heard how Candy, a Saints fan for more than 25 years, was in the Northam Stand for the club’s 3-0 Premier League defeat to Chelsea in October last year.

During that match, he was heard shouting racist abuse.

One witness said: “I think the club need to be aware of unacceptable behaviour that is becoming intolerable from one alleged supporter in particular.

“He was shouting abusive and racist comments particularly aimed at people from Poland, Pakistan and China – the owner in particular.

“It could have become violent as his racist comments triggered some heated exchanges.”

An investigation was then conducted by Hampshire police, resulting in Candy being suspended by the club.

Candy was subsequently charged and brought before the court where he subsequently pleaded guilty to racially aggravated abuse.

As well as a banning order, Candy was fined £230.

Julie Macey, senior lawyer of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Steven Candy crossed the line between what could be considered ‘normal football chants’ to shouting racist abuse, shocking more than one fan around him.

“Law-abiding football supporters and families should never be subject to hearing such abuse being shouted.”

She added: “The CPS takes such offending very seriously.

"We will continue to work tirelessly with the police, Football Association and clubs to tackle racism in sport.

"This case demonstrates that where there is sufficient evidence to do so we will prosecute perpetrators of such behaviour and seek banning orders against them."

Andy Darbyshire, Hampshire Constabulary’s dedicated football officer for Saints, said Candy was the second Saints fan to be banned for racist abuse this season – the other banned by the club.

He said: “I would like to thank those fans who came forward and provided information."

A spokesperson for Southampton FC said: “We work tirelessly with Hampshire Constabulary, anti-discrimination organisations and footballing bodies to eradicate any form of discriminatory behaviour.

“Our aim is to keep St Mary’s a welcoming, family-friendly stadium where fans come to enjoy watching football, regardless of their age, disability, gender, race or sexual orientation.

"As part of this, the club launched a text number to make it easy for supporters to report any rare instances of discrimination or abuse that they may witness in the stadium or at an away match.

“If a supporter wishes to report anything they see or hear at a game, simply text ONEMARCH to 60060 with a description of what you’ve witnessed and your location so we can tackle it appropriately and discreetly.”