
Rugby club, Batley Bulldogs, have banned a fan for sending homophobic tweets to club captain Keegan Hirst and his friend, Coronation Street actor Anthony Cotton.
Hirst became the first British rugby league player to come out as gay while still playing professionally.
Publicly naming fan Jordan Coyle on its website, the club said he would no longer be allowed in the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium.
A statement from the Bulldogs read: “Since Keegan publicly confirmed his sexual orientation we have been delighted by the response and support he has been given by everybody at the club and indeed throughout our sport.
“There is no place in our sport for homophobic abuse or indeed any abuse and we wish to send out a clear message that if you engage in such behaviour we do not want you to attend our stadium.”
Cotton, who plays Sean Tully in Coronation Street, is a supporter and regular visitor to the club. The decision to release a statement was praised by Hirst on Twitter.
He will soon leave the Bulldogs to play for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats next season.
Batley have have banned a supporter from their stadium for directing homophobic abuse at one of their players.