Boris Johnson has confirmed that Football Banning Orders will be extended to include racist abuse online.
During Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson said they were taking “practical steps” to combat racist abuse of footballers online.
He told MPs: “What we’re doing is today taking practical steps to ensure that the football banning order regime is changed so that if you are guilty of racist abuse online of footballers then you will not be going to the match.”
The Prime Minister added: “No ifs, not buts, no exemptions and no excuses."
It comes after England players Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka received and onslaught of racial abuse on social media after missing their penalties at Sunday night’s Euro 2020 final.
Labour has been demanding online racial hatred is treated in the same way as on the terraces through the extension of Football Banning Orders.
They currently allow magistrates to ban individuals from attending all regulated matches in the UK if they are convicted of relevant offences. The orders can last between three to ten years and individuals may also be required to surrender their passport before overseas matches.
However, they are largely handed out for violent and public disorder offences.
Labour’s shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens hit back on Twitter: “If Boris Johnson wanted to extend Football Banning Orders to include online racism he could have done this a long time ago. When will he put words into actions.”
