Man who racially abused ex-Latics star online banned from every stadium in England

Twenty-four-year-old Antonio Neill sent the message via Toney's Instagram account in October last year, with the player - now with Premier League Brentford - sharing it publicly, prompting a police investigation.

Neill, of Robert Street, North Shields, pleaded guilty before Newcastle magistrates on January 25 to sending an offensive message.

On Monday he received a four-month sentence suspended for two years and a three-year ban from attending football matches in England.

The ban extended to clubs in the Premier League, the Championship, Leagues One and Two and the National League, as well as to England home internationals, qualifying matches and tournaments played overseas.

Neill is the first person to receive such a sentence under the new legislation introduced last year, which brought in new powers for courts to ban offenders who engage in abuse and commit hate crimes online.

Superintendent Scott Cowie, hate crime lead for Northumbria Police, said on Brentford's website: "Discrimination has absolutely no place in any society, whether out in our communities or online.

"I am therefore delighted that the seriousness of Neill's offence has been reflected with this banning order, which forbids him from attending any regulated football in the United Kingdom.

"I hope this reinforces our commitment to taking action against anybody who commits a hate crime - it will not be tolerated and we will do all we can to put perpetrators before the courts."

Toney has repeatedly been the target of online racist abuse this season.

As well as the offence committed by Neill, the striker was also sent racist messages following Brentford's draw with Arsenal in February.

The Premier League said at the time it was supporting Brentford with their investigations into the incident, adding that the league "condemns all forms of discrimination".

Neill's sentence relates to messages sent after Toney had scored twice to help his side beat Brighton 2-0 on October 14, with the striker making the posts public the following morning.

Chief constable Mark Roberts, NPCC lead for football policing, added: "This result makes it clear that there are real consequences for those people who think they can hide behind a keyboard to post hateful comments.

"I'm pleased the new legislation has enabled a banning order to be issued in this case, which shows that the police, CPS and the courts are taking these offences very seriously."

Toney scored six goals in 28 appearances for Latics during the first half of the 2017-/18 campaign, after being brought in on loan from Newcastle Paul Cook and Leam Richardson.

However, after struggling to break into the starting line-up, he was recalled by the Toon in January of that season, and loaned out to Scunthorpe.

Richardson immediately took to social media to respond to the statement tweeted by Brentford.

"Hopefully all other clubs/sports follow suit @BrentfordFC @EFL,” he posted.