Wakefield Trinity Wildcats fined for fans' racist chanting

The club were found guilty of breaching RFL operational rules following “crowd misconduct” during a Qualifiers game against Bradford Bulls at Belle Vue last August.

An RFL statement said a group of Wakefield supporters were found by a tribunal to have engaged in “chanting of a racist and offensive nature”.

The club were fined £20,000, half of which is suspended until the end of the 2016 season.

They were also ordered to pay a £1,000 fine, which was suspended following a previous incident of misconduct involving spectators.

The club were found guilty on the basis their “immediate response to the incidents did not reach the standards required by the operational rules and that the club was responsible for the actions of the stewards at its matches (whether employed by it or otherwise)”.

The tribunal gave credit to Wakefield for steps taken after the match to address the issue, but felt the sanction should reflect the serious nature of the incidents.