A WHITES fan has been banned from watching football for three years after racially abusing manager Dougie Freedman and two Wanderers stars.

Philip John Ward unleashed a tirade of racist abuse during the team's derby-day defeat to Burnley at the Macron Stadium last season.

It is believed that South-Korean star Chung-yong Lee and midfielder Liam Trotter were the players who Ward racially abused.

Ward, aged 32 of Tintern Avenue, Tyldesley, was found guilty of a racially aggravated public order offence after a trial at Bolton Magistrates Court.

He was issued with a fine and costs and handed a three year football banning order.

During the match on February 11, which the Whites lost by a goal to nil, Ward was seen by a steward, who was operating as a plain clothes spotter, to shout racist abuse at two players in relation to their ethncity and to direct abuse at manager Dougie Freedman in relation to his Scottish nationality.

Police were made aware of the incident and Ward was arrested.

Police constable Rob Smith, from GMP’s Force Events Section, said: “Philip Ward and people of his ilk – whose bigot mind-sets are out of place and touch with decent members of our society – have no place and are not welcome in any walk of modern life, including sporting events.

“The type of vile nonsense spouted by Taylor is offensive to most but is especially unpalatable to those parents who were nearby with their young children.

“To vehemently target the manager and players of a team you are supposed to be supporting is also indicative of the intolerable person he is.

“We want to work with clubs and the FA and other organisations to stamp out such behaviour and would encourage anyone who experiences or hears anyone committing these types of offences to report it to police.”

A spokesman for the club said said: “BWFC will not condone such behaviour from any of our supporters and we will work with police as necessary as on this occasion.”