Man on football match race charge

A man has been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence following an incident at a Premier League football match.

Lee Ward, 23, is due to appear in court later this month as a result of police investigations into the match between Swansea City and Norwich City, at the Swans' home ground, the Liberty Stadium, in December.

Catrin Attwell, senior crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in Wales, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has examined a file of evidence gathered by South Wales Police following a complaint made at the Swansea City v Norwich City match at the Liberty Stadium on 8 December 2012.

"Our conclusion is that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to charge Lee Ward with the offence of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, under Section 4 of the Public Order Act 1986.

"We also conclude that this offence is racially aggravated in accordance with Section 31 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

"The defendant has been charged with this offence and will appear before Swansea Magistrates' Court on 20 March 2013."

A CPS spokesman said he was unable to say whether the incident related to a specific football player being abused.