Former Blackpool keeper Ryan Allsop subjected to homophobic abuse by Tranmere fans

A former Blackpool goalkeeper was subjected to homophobic abuse, a report into football hate crimes has revealed.
Ex-Blackpool goalkeeper Ryan Allsop was subjected to homophobic abuseEx-Blackpool goalkeeper Ryan Allsop was subjected to homophobic abuse
Ex-Blackpool goalkeeper Ryan Allsop was subjected to homophobic abuse

Ryan Allsop, 27, was abused by Tranmere fans when he played for Wycombe last month.

The Wirral-based side’s fans also directed abuse at the referee in the League One fixture. Allsop played 22 games for Pool in the 2017/18 season.

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The National Police Chiefs’ Council report says the “abhorrent behaviour” is a re-emerging problem in the game.

Home Office data shows that Preston North End was one of 19 clubs whose supports were flagged for no hate crime incidents in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.

Meanwhile, Burnley fans were reports 17 times – more than any other club in England and Wales.

The data covers matches in England and Wales in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 campaigns.

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Home Office data published in September showed that hate crime incidents were reported at 193 matches across England and Wales in the 2018-19 season – up from 131 the previous year.

But the government department said that some of the increase was likely to be due to improvements in recording.

Alleged race hate crimes accounted for 79 per cent of matches in which a report was made.

Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the NPCC’s football policing lead, said: “Racism at football is a re-emerging problem, although I don’t think it’s ever truly gone away. It was controlled for a while and became socially unacceptable, but it is a real concern we have seen it creep back with such regularity into the national game.

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“With reduced levels of policing on the ground, those committing this abhorrent behaviour do not have the immediate sanction of a police officer arresting them.”

Kick It Out, which campaigns for equality and inclusion in the game, said the rise in discrimination in football is a challenge for all clubs at all levels across the country, adding: “To this extent, football mirrors society”.

It said methods for reporting abusive behaviour at football matches were improving, which could explain a rise in the figures. It added: “We encourage clubs to continue building on the good work they have already done in creating effective reporting mechanisms.”

Several high-profile cases of reported hate crime at football matches have brought the problem to prominence in recent years.

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A Chelsea fan was reported for alleged racial abuse directed at Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling during a Premier League match in December last year.

Although the supporter was banned from matches for life in June, the Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence to bring a criminal charge.