An Everton fan has avoided jail for posting racist tweets about Mohamed Salah.
Gary Hyland was arrested after making a series of inflammatory remarks about the Liverpool forward during an online exchange in the early hours of August 6.
The 32-year-old from Bootle sent altered images about Salah, who is a practicising Muslim, which included the entire Reds team praying to Allah.
He also responded to one Twitter user questioning his behaviour with another doctored photo showing Salah with a suicide vest superimposed on him.
Everton publicly condemned Hyland’s actions at the time in a move which was echoed by large sections of their own fan base as well as Liverpool supporters.
At Liverpool Magistrates’ Court earlier this month, Hyland pleaded guilty to charges of racially and religiously aggravated intentional harrassment.
He also pleaded guilty to an additional charge of obstructing a police officer in the execution of duty during the arrest at his home on August 8.
Hyland was sentenced to six weeks in prison which have been suspended for 12 months following the case brought by the Crown Prosecution Service.
He received a further 28-day sentence, also suspended for 12 months and will run concurrently with the original punishment, for obstructing the police officer.
Hyland must also complete 200 hours of unpaid community work and a 14-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement including attending a Promoting Human Dignity Course.
A £122 victim surcharge was included as part of his sentencing.
Angela Conlan, of the CPS’ Mersey Cheshire branch, said: “When police came to arrest Hyland at his home and asked for his mobile phone, he said he couldn’t find it.
“His partner said it was on the couch and Hyland became really agitated and starting shouting at her, until he eventually retrieved it from under a cushion.
“He pleaded guilty and admitted what he’d done was stupid. These sorts of remarks fuel racial hatred and are extremely offensive to people from the race or religion that they are aimed at.
“Mohammed Salah does not deserve to be the object of abuse, and neither does any person in a civilised society.
“The tweets were sent in the early hours of the morning and Hyland turned a discussion into a racist rant. That is not acceptable.
“Let this be a lesson to everyone that words can hurt and society has standards that must be upheld.”