A 54-year-old man has pleaded guilty to racially abusing Rio Ferdinand after the Euro 2020 final.
Robert Whippe wrote Twitter posts, including racist derogatory emojis, to the former England defender after the Three Lions’ defeat to Italy on penalties. Ferdinand had been working on the match as a pundit for the BBC.
On Friday, Whippe pleaded guilty to two counts of sending a grossly offensive message at St Albans Magistrates Court. He originally denied any racist intent behind to the tweets, claiming that the emojis were selected at random.
Matthew Gauntlett, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Thames and Chiltern, said: “Whippe committed a racist attack on Rio Ferdinand as he was giving his expert opinion and commentary on the Euro 2020 final.
“It was completely unwarranted and part of a disease in football that the CPS is playing its part to eradicate.
“I would like to thank Rio Ferdinand for his cooperation and support for this prosecution in what must have been a distressing time for him.”
Douglas Mackay of the CPS added: “Hate crime has no place within society let alone sport. Recently we have seen an increase of reports in racist abuse online and in stadiums in football matches and we are determined to play our part in cutting this out.
“If you see, read, or hear of any offensive racist and homophobic language, please report it to the police who will investigate. And if our legal tests of sufficient evidence and public interest are met we will seek to serve justice through the prosecution of these horrendous actions.”
