Football fan Liam Duce banned for homophobic abuse at Woves vs Chelsea FC match

A man arrested for homophobic chanting during the Wolves vs Chelsea match in April has been banned from attending football matches for three years.

Liam Duce appeared at Dudley Magistrates Court on 15 June where he pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words and behaviour. This is after he was arrested at the fixture on 8 April this year for homophobic chanting. The 24-year-old, Sedgley, was given a three-year football banning order and fined £461.

PC Stuart Ward, football hate crime officer from West Midlands Police, said: "There is no place for discrimination in football, or society in general, and we will always fully investigate any reports we receive. There is no place for homophobia in football or society in general."

Pc Ward was appointed the UK’s first dedicated hate crime officer based within a football unit two years ago. He is leading West Midlands Police attempts to stamp out abuse both at football games and online abuse aimed at footballers and fans.

The force has explained that his role has improved its ability to support victims and investigate the offences. He investigates complaints of hate crime linked to football, monitoring online interactions and working with the region’s clubs - at both professional and amateur level - to highlight what is an offence and the importance of reporting it.

PC Ward also goes into schools to educate around discrimination and outline behaviour which can never be condoned, and link in with other bodies such as Kick It Out. He also works alongside other members of our football unit to monitor any offences at re-opened stadiums following the Covid-19 pandemic. Follow @FootballUnitWMP for updates from PC Ward and the rest of the team on the work of the unit.