Man handed football banning order for racist message

A man who sent a racist message to a football player has been banned from every stadium in the country.

Connor Butler was found to have sent an abusive message, which included racist language, to Luton Town FC star Elijah Adebayo on Instagram in 2024.

This followed on from the forward’s equalising goal in the 63^rd minute at Kenilworth Road against Sunderland AFC on October 23 – which Butler watched from his home address.

The now 20-year-old was caught out after enquiries were made by Cheshire Constabulary and Northumbria Police, with the Instagram handle leading back to Butler.

Online searches soon uncovered other social media profiles held in his name, linking him to the Sunderland area.

He was arrested in February 2025 at his Sunderland address and later charged with one count of sending communication of an indecent or offensive nature.

Butler, of Palermo Street in Pallion, pleaded guilty at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on December 10, 2025, where he was handed a £200 fine and court costs.

He returned to the same court last week on Monday, February 2, where magistrates slapped him with a four-year football banning order.

The order prohibits Butler from attending any regulated matches in a professional or semi-professional league in England and Wales until February 1, 2030.

Butler is also prevented from travelling abroad to watch international friendlies, qualification matches and tournaments.

Speaking after the result, Chief Superintendent Mark Hall, football policing lead for Northumbria Police said: “Racist and hateful speech has absolutely no place in our communities or online, and we know this kind of behaviour isn’t representative of the overwhelming majority of football fans.

“Fast-track enquiries with our colleagues at Cheshire Constabulary soon led us to identify Connor Butler as the sender of the messages, and he was later arrested and charged.”

Chief Supt Hall added: “We’d like to commend the victim in this case for coming forward to police, and I am grateful for the restrictions which are now stringently placed on Butler.

“I hope this reinforces our commitment to taking action against anybody who commits this type of crime – it will not be tolerated and we will do all we can to put perpetrators before the courts.

“I would like to thank everyone who played their part in this particular case, including our colleagues at Cheshire Constabulary and both football clubs.”

Cheshire Constabulary Chief Constable Mark Roberts QPM, the NPCC Lead for football policing, said: “Everyone is responsible for what they do and say, and posting a message on social media is no different. In this case, Butler sent a racist comment to Adebayo on Instagram, thinking that he would be able to hide behind his account name.

“His comments were totally abhorrent, and I welcome the sentence that has been handed to him. I also hope that it acts as a warning to other social media users, demonstrating that you will be held accountable for what you post.

“We have been clear that hate crime online or in person, is not acceptable and as we have shown in this case, you cannot hide behind a social media profile to post vile comments and spread hate.”

A spokesperson for Luton Town FC said: "We have become accustomed to our players and staff receiving abuse online in recent years.

“Sadly, many have become tired of reporting it, but Elijah has received some form of racial abuse in each of the five years he has been a Luton Town player and has always felt strongly enough to make statements to the police.

“This one thankfully has resulted in a prosecution and punishment that we hope acts as a deterrent to anyone thinking they can send abuse in a direct message, or on any form of social media, and get away with it. We stand with Elijah and all victims of discrimination, and will continue to fight for any of our Luton Town family who suffers at the fingertips of these keyboard criminals."

If any member of the public sees, reads or hears of offensive, racist, or homophobic language at fixtures or online, please report it by sending Northumbria Police a direct message, or by using live chat and report forms on the Force’s website.

Those unable to make contact in these ways can call 101.

People can also make a report to a police officer on duty or member of security at a football match.