While England were putting six past Iran in their World Cup opener yesterday afternoon, a Yorskhireman was found guilty of sending manager Gareth Southgate a racist message having been incensed by the players taking a knee.
Brian Martin, 36 and from Selby, sent an expletive-laden email to Southgate on 4 June after England lost 1-0 to Hungary in Budapest, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The CPS said that Martin used racist language to refer to black players in the team, criticised the England manager for decisions he had taken and for defeats the team had suffered while expressing anger at the team’s support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Martin was found guilty of one count of sending by public communication network an offensive or indecent message at York Magistrates' Court. He will be sentenced on December 13.
Adam Featherstone, of the CPS, said: "The content of this message was not only grossly offensive but racist. Martin now has a criminal record to show for it, which is likely to impact his life and future prospects.
"This result sends a clear message, that racist language in any form will not be tolerated and the CPS will not hesitate to prosecute these offences whenever our legal test is met."
Douglas Mackay, CPS national sports lead, has urged any witnesses to racist or homophobic language during the World Cup to make a report to police.
"Hate crime has no place within society let alone sport,” he said.
"At the World Cup, we hope the England and Wales teams do their countries proud. However, fans must not let their passion overspill into racial abuse of players for what they do on the pitch, like we saw overshadow Euro 2020.
"If you see, read or hear of any offensive racist and homophobic language, during the World Cup or after, please report it to the police who will investigate.
"The law has been extended so those who abuse players online face being banned from watching football, and we will use these powers to those who we prosecute."
