A Sunderland teenager who sent a racist message to Luton Town striker Elijah Adebayo has been fined just £200.
Connor Butler, 19, targeted the Hatters forward on Instagram last October after Luton’s Championship meeting with Sunderland at Kenilworth Road, a match the visitors went on to win 2-1 after Adebayo scored an equaliser.
Butler was not at the game and instead sent the abuse from home. Adebayo saw the message the following day and informed Luton Town, who referred the matter to police. The case was later heard at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, where Butler pleaded guilty to sending an offensive communication.
A story on the Sunderland Global Media Facebook page, reported: “Butler hadn’t attended the match but sent the abuse from home. Adebayo spotted the message the next day and alerted his club, who passed it on to police. South Tyneside magistrates called it a “cowardly act” and fined Butler £200.
“Northumbria Police is now seeking a Football Banning Order, which could see him barred from attending Sunderland games. Butler pleaded guilty to sending an offensive communication. His solicitor said it was a one-off message sent “in the heat of the moment” when he was just 18. Magistrates said: “You wouldn’t dare say it to his face – it’s a cowardly tweet behind a screen.””
Northumbria Police’s application for a Football Banning Order means Butler could yet be prevented from attending matches involving his hometown club, but the £200 fine represents the immediate outcome of the prosecution.
At the time of the incident being reported by Adebayo, Luton Town issued a strongly worded statement on their official website condemning the abuse and offering unequivocal backing to Adebayo.
The statement read: “Is it ever going to stop? Twelve months ago Elijah Adebayo was subjected to racist abuse on social media. A wave of vile and disgusting messages pouring into his account from faceless racists. Fast forward a year later and it has happened again. At 8.28pm on Wednesday evening, an account in the UK on Instagram messaged Elijah with a racist comment.
“After Elijah notified us following last night’s game with Sunderland, in which he scored his first goal of the season, we reported the incident to the Police and to Meta. It is now being investigated. Just like we said a year ago, and just like we will do whenever a player or staff member is subjected to abuse, we will stand by and support Elijah unequivocally. To the individual who cowardly dropped into Elijah’s DMs: We know who you are and you know who you are.
“You’re not a faceless account, one which we have sadly become accustomed to reporting in recent years. But as if you have the balls to come to Kenilworth Road and say it to his face. We dare you. If you do, you’ll be faced with everyone at Luton Town Football Club, standing side-by-side with Elijah. Abuse of any kind is unacceptable.”
Be the first to comment