Man, 49, charged with racially abusing Premier League footballer

13 April 2021, 11:43 | Updated: 14 April 2021, 05:08

West Brom's Romaine Sawyers was the alleged victim of racial abuse online
West Brom's Romaine Sawyers was the alleged victim of racial abuse online. Picture: PA
Nick Hardinges

By Nick Hardinges

A 49-year-old man has been charged with racially abusing Premier League footballer Romaine Sawyers online.

Simon Silwood has been accused of sending an offensive message to the West Bromwich Albion midfielder via social media in January, West Midlands Police (WMP) said.

His charge comes following an investigation conducted by Pc Stuart Ward, the UK's first dedicated hate crime officer within a football policing unit.

The suspect, from Kingswinford, near Dudley, has been charged under the Communications Act.

He is due to appear at Dudley Magistrates' Court on 29 April, WMP said.

Read more: Prince William condemns racist abuse directed at black footballers

Watch: 'Completely wrong' for fans to boo players taking knee - James Cleverly

Speaking after the incident earlier this year, West Brom manager Sam Allardyce offered his support to the player and asked what could be done to prevent online abuse.

"It leaves a big question about whether reporting it is enough," he said.

"Romaine - or any black person across the country - should not have to be open to any type of abuse on social media.

"He is extremely upset, as anybody would be. More than Romaine have suffered throughout football in the last few days.

"Social media sites need to act in a more responsible way. We have to do our best to cut this out."

Watch: Mixed race caller on being asked to choose team in 'black vs white' match

Watch: Ex-footballer explains what happened when he spoke to anti-BLM fans

Ex-footballer explains what happened when he spoke to anti-BLM fans

That same month, Prince William - who is president of the Football Association - condemned the rising online abuse being directed at black footballers.

"Racist abuse - whether on the pitch, in the stands, or on social media - is despicable and it must stop now," he said in a string of tweets.

"We all have a responsibility to create an environment where such abuse is not tolerated, and those who choose to spread hate and division are held accountable for their actions.

"That responsibility extends to the platforms where so much of this activity now takes place.

"I commend all those players, supporters, clubs and organisations who continue to call out and condemn this abuse in the strongest terms."

His comments came after a number of black footballers were subjected to racial abuse earlier that week, including West Brom's Swayers, Chelsea defender Reece James and Manchester United trio Axel Tuanzebe, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Zhenhao Zou is accused of raping three women in London and 7 in China, whilst they were unconscious

PhD student 'discussed rape role-play' with alleged victim, trial hears

Exclusive
Senior Tories including Suella Braverman and Michael Gove have criticised the judge's comments

Senior Tories blast 'out of touch' judge for 'ludicrous attack' on Starmer’s migrant remarks

Yarden Bibas was released by Hamas earlier this month

Hamas to return bodies of Bibas family with six more Israelis to walk free

Lisa Smith, 43, was with a female friend when she was killed outside the Three Horseshoes pub in Knockholt, Kent

Man suspected of fatally shooting wife outside pub on Valentine's Day rang friend and said 'she's dead'

Carry On legend Julian Holloway dies aged 80

Carry On legend Julian Holloway dies aged 80 after 'brief illness' as tributes pour in

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned 'any appearance by armed forces under some other flag' in Ukraine would be 'completely unacceptable', in a dig at a peace plan floated by Keir Starmer.

Keir Starmer’s Ukraine peacekeeping plan ‘completely unacceptable’, Russia tells US in Saudi Arabia talks

Rita Lambourne, 58, was “fatally wounded” at her home in Bayencourt South, Bexhill

Man charged with axe murder of woman in own home

Lydia Mugambe is accused of taking 'advantage of her status'

UN judge ‘trafficked woman to UK to be her slave'

Anonymous posters have appeared in Hampstead Heath, a park in north London, calling for gay men to stop using the park for sex.

'Take back Hampstead Heath', dog walkers urged as posters appear calling for men to stop using park for sex

Gavin Nicholls was tackled to the ground by a plain-clothed officer outside the Co-op in Barnet

Moment serial shoplifter is tackled off e-scooter by police as he flees store in north London

The plane, which was carrying 80 people, slid down onto the icy runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport before bursting into flames

Horrifying video shows moment Delta plane crashes on tarmac and bursts into flames at Toronto airport

Healey's comments came following Russia-US Peake talks in Saudi Arabia.

UK facing 'new era of threat' from Russia, Defence Secretary says as he unveils ‘biggest military shake up in 50 years’

Passengers escape Flipped over Delta plane after it crashed while landing in Toronto

'We were hanging upside down like bats': Survivors reveal fear and chaos inside flipped over Delta plane

England's top judge slams Starmer and Badenoch over Gaza family immigration comments

'Judges aren't free from criticism': Backlash after England's top judge attacks Starmer's migrant remarks

Craig and Lindsay Foreman

British couple on round-the-world motorbike adventure charged with espionage by Iranian authorities

An assistant referee has been charged with child sexual offences.

Assistant referee for FA Cup and football league games charged with child sexual offence