We'll ban fans for life over racist chants says club after complaints

YORK City Football Club’s directors have warned anyone caught hurling racist abuse faces a life-time ban and prosecution after complaints were made following a home game against Luton Town.

The Yorkshire club has stressed that it will adopt a zero tolerance stance on racism in the terraces at Kit Kat Crescent, and those responsible face being arrested.

A 15-strong group is thought to have been responsible for racist chants and making monkey noises aimed at Luton Town players during the Blue Square Premier game on Tuesday last week, which ended 0-0.

York City’s stewards have now been briefed about the racist chanting to ensure that any future problems are dealt with swiftly.

The club’s communications and community director, Sophie Hicks, said it was the first official complaint of racism made at the club in recent years.

She also stressed that York City had worked hard to eradicate a stigma after the club was the only league outfit not to sign up to the Kick Racism Out of Football campaign in the mid-1990s.

The club’s board at the time had claimed that the campaign would not eradicate racism from the game, although the stance infuriated York City supporters.

Mrs Hicks said: “The current board has been in place for seven years, and we have worked hard to tackle the problem. Anyone who is caught making racist chants will be ejected from the ground, given a lifetime ban and will also face prosecution.”