Wolves fan jailed for racially abusing Rio Ferdinand
Jamie Arnold was sentenced today at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Last updated 8th Dec 2023
A football fan has been put behind bars after racially abusing former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand.
Jamie Arnold, 33, of The Glebe, Stone, Staffordshire has been sentenced to six months for a racially aggravated public order offence. He's also been banned from watching live matches for seven years.
The incident happened during a Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United in May 2021.
Arnold, who sat with home fans at Molineux Stadium in the first socially-distanced return of Premier League football since the Covid-19 outbreak, denied the offence.
Jamie Arnold was ejected by stewards and then arrested by officers
Throughout the match, which was broadcast on national television, Arnold made derogatory remarks and hand gestures at Mr Ferdinand, who was working as a pundit for BT Sport.
Arnold was arrested at the scene by officers with West Midlands Police.
He answered no comment when asked about his actions during police interview and formally denied the charge at court.
Sentencing him today (8 December), Judge Rhona Campbell branded Arnold a "parasite to proper Wolverhampton fans" on a day that should have been "joyful" as home fans were allowed back into Premiership football for the first time after the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement read out in court, Mr Ferdinand said he had been left "extremely distressed, distraught and devastated" by the incident and while he had "learned to deal with racist comments" during his time as a footballer, he had never experienced racist gestures or comments while working as a pundit.
He said: "Still to this day I do not know why I was abused... this abuse was unprovoked and completely unacceptable.
"I accept as an ex-professional football player there will be supporters who will voice opinions about me or whilst I am working on TV, what I don't accept is that the opinions or gestures made about me or towards me should be abusive and racist where comments are made regarding the colour of my skin and my background."
He said Arnold had shown a "complete lack of respect for me, my family, Wolves FC and everyone associated to football".
Mr Ferdinand said a group of supporters appeared to be more interested in him than the game, and when he was later informed of Arnold’s actions he was left feeling alarmed and physically sick.
PC Stuart Ward is a football hate crime officer at West Midlands Police, he said: "It's a simple message, don't display discriminatory behaviour, whether it's racism, homophobic abuse, disability abuse and lots more.
"If you're going to go to football, go and enjoy it, but if you're going to step over the mark and go into that criminal element then you will be identified.
"People are reporting these crimes to us and you will be held account by putting before a court."