A man who sent offensive messages to former England football Rio Ferdinand has admitted racially abusing him.
Robert Whippe, 54, pleaded guilty at St Albans Magistrates’ Court to two counts of sending a grossly offensive message to Mr Ferdinand over his commentary on the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
England lost to Italy in a penalty shoot-out and afterwards Whippe used “racist and derogatory emojis” to describe Mr Ferdinand’s commentary of the match.