A BOLTON football fan has been banned from going to football grounds for three years after racially abusing England players.

Stephen Wedge, aged 54, from Bolton has been handed a football banning order by Manchester magistrates.

During an England World Cup qualifier in Moldova in 2012, Wedge racially abused England players as he watched the match from the terraces.

Police said they worked closely with the English FA and the UK Football Policing Unit to gather evidence against him.

PC Ashley Keyte said: “We are working constantly to prevent this type of behaviour and this is an example of that determination in action."

Police said they were able to bring Wedge to justice thanks to "information received from those inside the ground."

PC Keyte added: "It is only by decent supporters standing up to be counted will police and the FA be able to rid our national game of this type of pernicious and unacceptable behaviour.”