Man fined £300 for Jordan Tapping racist abuse

Jordan Tapping was racially abused at Balmoor.

Football supporter Donnie Fraser, 19, shouted a racial remark at the 17-year-old defender during the East Stirlingshire v Peterhead FC game on Saturday.

The schoolboy was so upset that his manager decided to substitute him just 15 minutes before the match ended and he left the pitch in tears.

Police launched an investigation and arrested Fraser at his work on Tuesday afternoon. He spent the night in custody and appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court yesterday.

The first offender admitted shouting a racially offensive comment which was likely to incite public disorder at the Balmoor Terrace stadium.

Fiscal depute Ruairidh McAlister said the match had kicked off at 3pm on Saturday.

He said: “As the game was ongoing, the accused was heard by persons round about him shout, ‘F*ck you, you black c*nt’.

“This was directed at Jordan Tapping, who is a player with East Stirlingshire football club.

“During the course of the game it became apparent that Jordan Tapping was upset by these comments.

“His manager became aware of this and to save any further abuse substituted him.”

Investigation

The court heard the incident was not reported to police but officers launched an investigation after reports of the crime appeared in the national and local media.

Fraser, of Peterhead, admitted the offence when interviewed by officers and said there had been no reason for him to commit the offence.

Defence lawyer Garry Sturrock said his client was embarrassed and ashamed of his actions.

He said Fraser was arrested at his work where he was employed as a labourer at a local fish factory.

The court heard the teenager had suffered from ADHD as a child and had anger management issues.

Mr Sturrock said he often got frustrated when playing football with friends when he was on the losing side and was an “avid” Peterhead FC supporter.

He told the court that his client had believed that Jordan Tapping had carried out an aggressive tackling manoeuvre during the match and was disappointed that the referee did not intervene.

Mr Sturrock said other supporters were shouting “banana man” and telling the young player to go back to his own country.

Mr Sturrock said: “He tells me that racial remarks are completely out of character for him.

“He is deeply ashamed and accepts the wrongness of his actions.”

Mr Sturrock said his client had asked him not to oppose a football banning order.

He added that the teenager had had time to reflect on the crime in custody and would be seeking help from his GP to deal with his anger management issues.

Sheriff Alison Stirling told Fraser he had committed a “terrible offence” and said he had behaved in an unimpressive way.

She ordered him to pay £300 compensation to Jordan Tapping and banned him from attending football matches for 12 months.

Fraser shouted at the photographer outside the court as he left the building.