Football banning orders for online hate
THE government is changing football banning orders to cover online racism, Boris Johnson has said.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson condemned the racist abuse directed at some black England players following the team's defeat in the Euro 2020 final.
‘I utterly condemn and abhor the racist outpourings that we saw on Sunday night,’ he said.
‘So what we are doing is taking practical steps to ensure that the football banning regime is changed so that if you are guilty of racist abuse online on football, then you will not be going to the match.
‘No ifs, no buts, no exemptions, no excuses.’
Football banning orders are handed out when someone is convicted of a “relevant offence” linked to a match, including crimes such as disorderly behaviour, making threats against people or property, and possession of weapons or alcohol.
The list also covers crimes set out under the Football (Offences) Act 1991, which include racist chanting, pitch invasion and throwing missiles.
The duration of a banning order, which is used to bar individuals from attending matches and in some cases can require them to surrender their passports ahead of overseas fixtures, can range from a minimum of three years up to a maximum of 10 years.
Mr Johnson rejected a call by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to condemn Home Secretary Priti Patel after she dismissed the team’s actions in taking the knee at the start of matches as “gesture politics”.
‘The Home Secretary has faced racism and prejudice all her career of a kind he can never imagine. And she has taken practical steps to get black and minority officers in record numbers,’ the Prime Minister said.
The Labour leader responded by accusing the Government of trying to “stoke a culture war”, only to realise that they were on the wrong side.
‘Why will the Prime Minister refuse time and time again – even now – to condemn those who boo our players for standing up against racism?’ Sir Keir asked.
‘What is it that this England team symbolises that this Conservative Party is so afraid of ?’
Sir Keir added: ‘Far from giving racism the red card, the Prime Minister gave it the green light.’
Earlier, Conservative former minister Steve Baker warned the party needed to change its attitude towards people who take the knee.