Sullivan, and another man, will stand trial in March

Teenage thugs have been banned from attending football matches for three years after taking part in racist chants during a clampdown against racial prejudice in the sport.

The 16-year-old from Dagenham and 17-year-old from Hornchurch were also given four-month youth offending referral orders and ordered to pay £75 costs each following the offences at the “Daggers against Racism” event at Victoria Road, Dagenham.

During the Dagenham and Redbridge v Bradford match on March 3, around 25 to 30 youths were seen and heard to be chanting racist slogans that were directed at schoolboys, some of whom were as young as eight.

The two boys, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated public order offences and were sentenced at Barkingside Youth Court on July 27.

Dagenham and Redbridge managing director Steve Thompson said: “Dagenham & Redbridge FC is a fully inclusive club and abhors any form of prejudice.

“Together with the Metropolitan Police we have shown that we will not tolerate behaviour of this kind within our ground.

“We are pleased to see that the appropriate action has been taken against these individuals.”

The Met said a decision was made not to make arrests during the match due to risk to public safety should a public order situation erupt.

Instead, those causing the disturbance were quietly ejected from the stadium by police officers and club security.

Chief InspRichard Goodwin said after the hearing: “Families, groups and individuals have the right to support football and attend matches without fear of harassment of any kind.

“Police will apply to the court for a football banning order on anyone who thinks it is OK to cause alarm and distress to others to spoil their enjoyment at football events.”