Hooligan hurled shocking racial abuse at Raheem Stirling during Villa Park match

A football hooligan has been handed a three year banning order at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Tuesday (17 January) after he racially abused England and Chelsea player Raheem Sterling during a game at Villa Park last year.

Timothy Hyslop was heard to shout out a shocking racist slur when Sterling was on the ball during the first half of the Premier League game between Aston Villa and Chelsea on 16 October 2022.

Hyslop, 54, from Britannia Drive, Burton, was brought in after the game and interviewed under caution. He was charged with a racially aggravated section 5 public order offence.

He appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to the hate crime charge.

The football hooligan received a three year ban and was ordered to pay fines and court costs totalling £538.

PC Stuart Ward, football hate crime officer at West Midlands Police, said: “This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated. Abusing anyone for the colour of their skin is disgusting and can never, ever be condoned.

“There is no place for racism in football or society in general. I would like to thank Aston Villa for their assistance during this investigation.”

PC Ward was appointed the UK’s first dedicated hate crime officer based within a football unit two years ago. He is leading attempts to stamp out abuse both at football games and online abuse aimed at footballers and fans.