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PLANE ABUSE: Andy Cole has been allegedly racially abused by two men (PA)

EX-MANCHESTER UNITED goal poacher Andy Cole has been subjected to racial abuse on a plane.

The incident on the flight from Dublin to Manchester has resulted in two men being charged by Greater Manchester Police – Gregory Horan, 26, faces charges of being drunk, while Lee Patrick Byrn, 28, has been charged with racial abuse.

In a statement, police said: “Two men have been charged after officers were called to Manchester Airport in relation to an inbound flight from Dublin.”

It added: “Officers were responding to reports that a 42-year-old man was being subjected to racial abuse while on the plane, and that two passengers were drunk and would not cooperate with cabin staff.”

Both men from Dublin, Ireland, appeared at Trafford Magistrates Court today (Dec 30) to hear the charges against them.

Cole, 42, is one of the Premier League’s most prolific strikers, being only second to Alan Shearer in scoring the most goals in the league since its inception in 1992.