Four year ban for man who racially abused Luton footballer
Connor Butler sent Luton Town FC star Elijah Adebayo a slur after the forward scored against Sunderland.
A man who sent racist abuse to a Championship footballer after he scored a goal has been banned from watching games for four years, police have said.
Connor Butler, now 20, sent Luton Town FC star Elijah Adebayo a slur on Instagram in October 2024 after the forward scored against Sunderland.
Butler was watching the game at home in Sunderland, Northumbria Police said.
The player saw the message and made a complaint to police who traced the Instagram handle back to Butler.
He was arrested in February 2025 and charged with sending communication of an indecent or offensive nature.
Butler, of Palermo Street, Pallion, admitted the charge at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court in December and was handed a Ă‚ÂŁ200 fine and court costs.
He was back to the same court on Monday February 2 where he was handed a banning order lasting four years, Northumbria Police said.
He cannot attend any professional or semi-professional game in England and Wales in that period and must not travel abroad for international matches.
After the case, 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."
He 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."
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."