There's an element that seems unable to put their partisan allegiance to Sunderland AFC aside. Most Sunderland fans seem to want nothing more to do with Johnson, think he's a wrong'un and don't think the sentence is harsh at all. However there appears to be a minority who speak up for/defend/whatabout for a convicted sex offender because of his old connection to the club. Were he a kids tv presenter, or a popstar with similar access, appeal to and influence of kids, but no allegiance to SAFC, I'm sure they'd be in line to throw him under a bus.
This element exists in all fanbases mind you. There'll definitely be an element of Leicester fans who'll defend Vardy's racist incident and not because they think he's innocent, but because they won't countenance any criticism of their club or those associated with it. There's an element of Newcastle fans who leapt to the defence of Barton or Shelvey when they've done something wrong, even after the guilt was confirmed.