A Hampshire football fan has been banned from all matches for three years after sending racist abuse to a non-league footballer following an FA Cup tie.
Harry Dunbar, 20, from Whiteley, admitted to police that he sent the vile Instagram message to Tamworth striker Christopher Wreh because he had lost a bet on the match.
The abuse came after Tamworth's third-round defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on 12 January, which ended 3-0.
Portsmouth Magistrates' Court handed down the football banning order on Wednesday, alongside a 12-month community order requiring 200 hours of unpaid work.
Harry Dunbar, 20, from Whiteley, admitted to police that he sent racist abuse to a non-league footballer
PA
Wreh, who came on as a substitute during the match, discovered the racist message from an account called "Dunztagram" when checking his Instagram afterwards.
The 28-year-old striker posted a screenshot of the abuse on social media, writing: "After an amazing day today, this is the last thing I expected to see when I opened Instagram."
His post was viewed more than 1.7 million times, prompting members of the public to identify Dunbar as the account holder.
This information was passed to Staffordshire Police's dedicated football officer, who liaised with the UK Football Policing Unit and Hampshire Constabulary's Football Unit.
Dunbar was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated malicious communications and his phone was seized by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.
Despite the Instagram account having been removed, digital investigators confirmed he owned the "Dunztagram" account.
The court increased his unpaid work requirement from 150 to 200 hours due to the racial element of the offence.
He must also complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay £85 in costs.
The three-year football banning order prohibits Dunbar from entering any football ground in the country and prevents him from travelling abroad when international matches are taking place.
Superintendent Adrian Hall, head of operations for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, condemned the abuse, stating: "Nobody should ever be subjected to such vile and disgusting abuse, regardless of what they do for a living."
Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the NPCC lead for football policing, said Dunbar's comments were "totally abhorrent and quite rightly they shocked and appalled people across the country when Wreh bravely shared the message that he had been sent."
Senior Crown Prosecutor Gavin Sumpter emphasised that Dunbar "chose to break the law" after losing his bet, warning that such behaviour would not be tolerated.
The FA declared the ruling sends a clear message that discrimination will face strong action.
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