A 74-YEAR-OLD football spectator has this afternoon admitted shouting racist abuse at a player during a derby game in Dorset, and has been fined.

Peter James Chubb, from St Lukes Court, Bridport, appeared at Weymouth Magistrates Court to plead guilty to a charge of racially or religiously aggravated harassment.

It refers to an incident during a reserve match between Bridport and Gillingham at Bridport Football Club on October 9 2021.

Bridport supporter Chubb hurled racist abuse at Gillingham player Eboni McCann during the second half of extra time of the match – leading to the entire Gillingham team to walk off the pitch in solidarity.

At court today, Chubb admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words, or disorderly behaviour with the intent of causing Mr McCann harassment, alarm or distress.

Prosecuting, Richard Oakley, said that the victim had been playing for the team since August and was relatively new to the team.

In a statement read out to the court, the victim said he was fouled by a player from the Bridport team and swore at him.

He said he heard a spectator who had been making comments throughout the game say, 'go climb a tree and and get some bananas you monkey'.

He said: "I shouted out, 'what did you say?'"

Chubb replied saying: "You heard what I said" and referred to Mr McCann calling a Bridport player an obscene word.

Mr McCann was said to have replied, saying: "If you weren't so old I would punch you in the mouth."

The 26-year-old player said he was 'shocked' by what he heard and said: "I'm in disbelief this could happen in a football match."

Mitigating, Kenny Sharpe, said that a statement from someone who sat beside Chubb during the game said that the language used in the game was 'by far the worst' language he had heard.

He said the victim was constantly swearing at other players and spectators.

However, Mr Oakley told the court that the referee said it was a 'competitive game' but one which was played 'in good spirit' by players.

Mr Sharpe said that following the tackle Chubb 'very uncharacteristically' made the remark.

He said: "It was very out of character for him."

He said Chubb wanted Mr McCann to know how sorry he is for what he said. Chubb was also said to have gone to the chairman of the Gillingham club expressing his remorse with a donation following the incident.

Chairman of the bench, David Ruston, said that there were aggravating factors to this incident considering that the comment was made in a public place which was likely to have been around vulnerable people and children, and said the victim had no opportunity to escape from the situation.

However, because Chubb had expressed remorse and attempted to apologise to the club's chairman, and because Chubb was a man of previous good character and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, the bench lowered his sentence from a community order to a fine.

Chubb was fined £140, which was given an £110 uplift for the racially aggravated element of the incident, meaning he must pay a total fine of £250.

He was also ordered to pay a £34 victim surcharge and court costs of £85.

As previously reported the incident, which has been was described as ‘disgusting, abhorrent and horrendous’ by the Bridport manager, prompted the entire Gillingham team to abandon the game in a show of support to the abused player, and the contempt for the comment that had been made.

Chubb was immediately banned from the club for life.