Football supporters banned for tragedy chanting

Mark Turner and Callum Lawton were spotted making offensive chants during Stoke City's game with Leeds United at Elland Road earlier in March

Two Stoke City supporters have been banned from all football grounds in England and Wales for three years for tragedy chanting at Elland Road.

Mark Turner and Callum Lawton were spotted mocking the deaths of two Leeds United fans who were killed in Istanbul in 2000, West Yorkshire Police said.

The incident happened during Stoke's away fixture against Leeds on 5 March.

The pair admitted a public order offence at Leeds Magistrates' Court on 20 March.

The force said the two men were in the away supporters' section of the upper West Stand at the time, which is immediately above home fans.

Turner, 44, of Longport Road, Stoke-on-Trent, was fined £553 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £221 victim surcharge.

Lawton, 28, of Johnson Place, Stoke-on-Trent, was fined £120 and told to pay £85 in costs and a £48 victim surcharge.

Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus were both fatally stabbed in April 2000, on the eve of Leeds' UEFA Cup semi-final tie with Galatasaray.

• What is tragedy chanting and how does it affect fans?

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