Player broke rival’s jaw in racist attack on pitch

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An Ashford footballer has been l ocked up f or smashing his elbow into the face of an opponent in a racist attack during a game.

Luke Burdon’s first punishment was to be sent off for the incident in the Kent County League match between South Darenth and Kennington reserves in February last year.

Now the 19-year-old has been sentenced to two years in a young offenders’ institution after admitting a racially aggravated attack on his opponent.

Judge James O’Mahony told him: “You used foul, disgraceful racist language in a very nasty attack.

“For years right-minded people have striven to kick racism out of football.

“Football is the national game.

“People love it and they want their children to grow up enjoying it.

“But they won’t want to do that if it is violent and associated with racist language.”

A judge heard that as he broke his opponent’s jaw in three places, he snarled the ‘F’ and ‘ N’ words at injured Zakaria Abuker.

Burdon’s lawyer Guy Wyatt had asked the judge for an indication on sentence at Canterbury Crown Court.

After initially rejecting a two year maximum Burdon, of Hillbrow Lane, returned to court and changed his plead guilty to racially aggravated inflicting of grievous bodily harm.

The teenager looked shocked as Judge James O’Mahony rejected a defence application to consider suspending the sentence.

The judge told him: “There must be an immediate custodial sentence – suspending it is quite out of the question because it is so serious.”

Prosecutor Benjamin Burge told how the incident happened in the 70th minute of the match when Mr Abuker successfully tackled Burdon before clearing the ball upfield.

As he walked away to continue the game, Burdon approached him and hit him in the face with his elbow shouting: “F****** n*****!”

Burdon was then given a red card and later received a lengthy ban for the unprovoked attack. Mr Abuker underwent a three-hour operation to insert a plate into his face – but has since returned to playing football.

Judge O’Mahony told Burdon: “You allowed the red mist to descend on you, because you didn’t like being dispossessed of the ball, whether you overran it or were tackled, per- haps it matters not.

“You play this great game and you must expect that sometimes things don’t go your way.

“But you followed your opponent and after using horrible language – you smashed your elbow into his face.

“I am not saying that you are racist. I am prepared to accept that you are not.”

What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk

Judge O’Mahony: “You allowed the red mist to descend on you.”

Luke Burdon, right, was sent to a young offenders’ institution by Judge James O’Mahony, left, after elbowing an opponent and hurling racist abuse on the football pitch