A man who posted a racist emoji on England player Jadon Sancho's Instagram account following the Euro 2020 final has avoided jail. Sancho, fellow Manchester United star Marcus Rashford and Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka received a barrage of abuse on social media after they missed penalties in the shootout defeat to Italy at Wembley Stadium on July 11 last year.
The incident prompted a public outcry and fuelled wider debate amid moves by the Government to protect users from harmful online content. Jerry Garcia-Lorca Roj-Oz, from Abbey Wood, south-east London, posted a monkey emoji underneath one of Sancho's photos shortly after the match, Bexley Magistrates’ Court heard.
The 23-year-old pleaded guilty earlier this month to sending a grossly offensive, indecent or obscene character. During his sentencing on Monday, prosecutor Denise Clewes said: "This is a matter where a racially abusive message was sent to a member of the England national football team following the team’s defeat in the European Championships in the penalties.
