Sheffield United fan heard shouting homophobic slurs is banned from attending any football games
A Sheffield United fan who was heard chanting homophobic slurs at a match has been banned from attending any football game in the country.
Barnaby Dodsworth was heard making the offensive chants during the Liverpool v Sheffield United game at Anfield on April 4.
The 50-year-old, of Sheffield, was found guilty of using threatening and abusive words, and was issued with a three-year football banning order at South Sefton Magistrates Court on October 2.
Dodsworth was chairman of Brunsmeer Athletic Football Club, based at The Meadway in Dore, Sheffield.
The club told The Star that he had resigned from his roles as chairperson and director at the club.
Dodsworth was one of three men Merseyside Police said had recently been sentenced for football-related crimes.
Stephen Dodd, aged 44, from Old Swan, was also given a three-year football banning order, along with a 12-month community order, after he posted hateful messages on X, formerly Twitter, between December 2023 and January this year.
And John Gill, aged 50, from Fazakerley, was sentenced to 17 weeks in prison after selling fake tickets to two people outside Anfield for the Liverpool-Wolves game on May 19. Chief Inspector Iain Wyke, of Merseyside Police, said: “This type of behaviour displayed by Dodd, Gill and Dodsworth has no place in football.
“Dodd and Dodsworth were each issued with football banning orders for hateful comments posted online and offensive chanting at a match which caused distress to others, and this is wholly unacceptable.
“This ban prevents them now from attending any football game in the country.
“While Gill scammed supporters out of significant amounts of money by selling fake tickets to them outside the stadium, and he is now spending time in jail.
“I hope these sentencing sends a clear message and acts as a deterrent to others that we will be put you before the courts to be prosecuted.”
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Dodd pleaded guilty on Ocober 16 to posting malicious communications, and was sentenced at South Sefton Magistrates Court.
Gill pleaded guilty to fraud, and was sentenced at Liverpool Magistrates Court on October 15.