County fan 'sorry' for Sol chants

A 34-year-old Telford man has apologised through his solicitor for taking part in obscene chants against Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell.

Stuart Turner was part of a group of Tottenham Hotspur fans who shocked families and children with their verbal abuse of the former England player, a court heard.

Turner, of Queen Street, Wellington, was one of four defendants who admitted indecent chanting when they appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates Court yesterday.

They were each given a three-year football banning order, fined £370 and ordered to pay £120 costs and £15 to a victim surcharge fund.

Natasha Draycott, for Turner, said he had been a Tottenham fan for 30 years and had attended more than 1,000 matches without getting into trouble before.

Turner admitted singing the full chant as well as obscene phrases about Campbell, she said.

She added: "He is bitterly disappointed at his behaviour and profusely sorry."

The charges related to what were said to be racist and homophobic chants made at Campbell, a former Tottenham star, during a match between the two teams at Portsmouth's Fratton Park ground on September 28 last year.

Several people were arrested after the match. The FA had previously stated it would ban for life any fans it could prove were involved in the chants.

Nick Hawkins, Hampshire and Isle of Wight chief crown prosecutor and the Crown Prosecution Service lead on football matters, said outside court: "We draw the line between good-natured, humorous chanting at football matches and indecent abuse.

"We are pleased four defendants admitted their part in the chanting constituted criminal behaviour and chose not to contest their football banning orders.

"Obviously we cannot comment on the seven defendants who will face a trial in due course.

"The good behaviour of 37,000 fans at the return match at White Hart Lane on January 18 shows the overwhelming majority of decent football fans know the difference between what is right and wrong."

Turner, speaking from his home today, said the case had been dealt with by the courts and he did not want to comment further.