Football fans face three year ban for homophobic abuse

Football fans in England and Wales could be prosecuted for homophobic abuse and banned from going to matches for three years.

The Crown Prosecution Service is clamping down on discriminatory behaviour.

The lead sports prosecutor from the Crown Prosecution Service, Nick Hawkins, said that incidents can sometimes be dealt with there and then.

"We have seen instances in football over the years where decent fans have reported to stewards unacceptable chanting or bad language and stewards have dealt with it," he said.

"And that is something we encourage and support."