Fan banned over racial chanting

Five people were arrested after the game

A life-long Sunderland football supporter has been banned from all football grounds for three years after admitting racial chanting.

Raymond Holmes, 32, from the Pennywell area of Sunderland, was also fined £200.

The incident happened when Sunderland played Coventry at the Stadium of Light on 8 November.

Sunderland magistrates heard on Wednesday that 200 to 300 supporters were involved in the chant.

Holmes was one of five people arrested.

'Spur of the moment'

Magistrate John Ahmad described the incident as "disgraceful" and said visiting fans must have been appalled at such chanting.

After the hearing Holmes said he had simply been caught up in a chant and denied being a racist.

He said: "I regret everything that has happened.

"I have supported them [Sunderland] for 30 years and it is the first time I have ever been arrested or taken to court in that time.

"I have got coloured people in my family, so I'm not racist.

"It was just spur of the moment, everyone just joined in, and I'm paying for it."

Two teenagers - aged 15 and 17 - will appear at youth court on Thursday.

Two other men were bailed pending further inquiries.