A man has been banned from attending football matches for three years after he racially abused Dutch striker Justin Kluivert.
Gavin Dunn, 39, was caught on camera shouting at the Bournemouth player after he scored against Sheffield United in a Premier League game on 25 November 2023.
Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard that police hired a lipreading expert who confirmed that Dunn had shouted “black c***” and “black bastard” at Kluivert at Bramall Lane.
The striker did not hear the abuse in question during the match, which Bournemouth won 3-1, the court heard.
However, prosecutor Mark Hughes said the incident was broadcast worldwide by Sky Sports, which reported the matter to police after their “cameras picked up the defendant right at the front of the stand while the celebration was taking place using words that were considered to be racially offensive”.
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Dunn, of Thurnscoe, Barnsley, admitted an offence of racially aggravated harassment at a previous hearing.
David Staniforth, defending, said his client was “not someone who is at all racist” and said his friends and colleagues agreed what happened was “completely out of character”.
“When he says he is sorry for what he said, it is heartfelt,” he added.
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Chairwoman of the bench Jayne Revill handed Dunn a football banning order – meaning he cannot attend matches for three years – on Friday.
He was also sentenced to a 12-month community order, including 150 hours of unpaid work.
