A three-year match ban was imposed on an Arsenal supporter who used social media to criticize midfielder Thomas Partey based on his race.
Charles Ogunmilade, 28, acknowledged attacking the Gunners player for missing a goal during the team’s 3-3 draw with Southampton on April 21 of last year by posting a “grossly offensive” remark on X.
According to the City of London Magistrates’ Court, the remark was meant to be humorous.
Magistrates stated that a conditional release “would not be appropriate” and that they had “no choice” but to issue him a three-year football banning order.
After Partey blasted a shot over the crossbar, Ogunmilade took to social media, the court heard, and the post was reported to the police.
Prosecutor Suleman Hussain claimed that Ogunmilade informed authorities that the post was meant to be a humorous quotation in a social group. According to him, the group would emulate the words of a white bigot.
After England fell in the Euro 2020 final, Ogunmilade, who is of Nigerian heritage and represented himself, told the court that bigotry directed at the country’s black players had a negative impact on him and his friends.
“To limit the power these people have over you, we used to make fun of it,” he remarked.
The suspension, which would also compel him to turn in his passport to the police each time England played an away game, worried Ogunmilade about how it would affect his career and his ability to travel to Nigeria to see his family.
Magistrate Shaoni Myer stated that the panel considered Ogunmilade’s early guilty plea, previous excellent character, personal circumstances, experience with racism, and desire for the post to be satirical.
Ogunmilade was directed to pay a fine of £125, a £50 surcharge, and an £85 payment to the prosecution’s costs.
