'I've had bananas thrown at me,' says referee

Ian Moore was once racially abused by fans during a football match

A referee who is one of only five black officials in Suffolk and once had a banana thrown at him during a match wants to see more ethnic minority referees “chase their dreams”.

Ian Moore, 60, first took to the pitch with a whistle around his neck 24 years ago after a referee failed to turn up for one of his daughter’s football matches.

Since then he has officiated more than 200 games across the county in atmospheres both pleasant and hostile as part of the Suffolk FA.

On one occasion Mr Moore experienced an incident of racism similar to that encountered by John Barnes in a Merseyside derby in February 1988.

Suffolk FA referee Ian Moore has officiated over 200 games

“I’ve been to a few dodgy places and people don’t realise being a black referee is hard but it is enjoyable,” he said.

“There was one game where the team was just about to take a corner and a banana got thrown at me.

“So, I picked it up, peeled it, and ate it. I thought I was going to get in trouble but then afterwards the person who chucked it shook my hand.

“When you do certain games, you are the bad person because you are the referee, and you do get threatened - but we do get a bit more respect now.”

Ian Moore (centre) wants to encourage more black referees to get into the game

Despite the discrimination he has endured Mr Moore, who is a Level-5 referee, persevered and has now been celebrated for his commitment to the game.

During a ceremony held at Wembley Stadium he was commended in the inspirational role model category at the Referee Recognition Awards.

He said: “I couldn’t believe it and just thought, ‘This is not happening.’ I was in shock and I could have cried when I was walking on to the stage.

“It was a dream come true and I never thought in my lifetime I would ever make it to Wembley. It means so much to me and hopefully I’ve made my parents proud.

“In Ipswich there are 301 referees but only five black referees, so I want to show people of all colours they can do this and get more black referees involved.

“It has been a whirlwind and has made my life worth living, so to all the other black referees, don’t give up the dream. You can do this.”