Man who racially abused Coventry footballer Kasey Palmer at Sheffield Wednesday given football ban
Edward Rabjohn, who is 21 and from Sheffield, admitted to making a racist gesture during a police interview
A man who made a racist gesture towards Coventry midfielder Kasey Palmer during a game at Sheffield Wednesday has been banned from football matches for five years.
Edward Rabjohn, who is 21 and from Sheffield, admitted to police he made the gesture and ran away from HIllsborough in January 2024.
Palmer informed the match referee Anthony Blackhouse of the gesture, who reported it to Coventry manager Mark Robins.
Palmer told the police that he saw Rabjohn “extremely animated” and was looking directly at him while gesturing towards the footballer.
In a hearing at Sheffield Magistrates' Court on Monday (May 20), Rabjohn pleaded guilty to racially abusing Palmer.
He was sentenced to a two-year community order and 200 hours of unpaid work. His sentence was increased to take account of the racially aggravating features of the incident.
Julian Tanikal, District Crown Prosecutor and CPS Yorkshire and Humberside lead sports prosecutor, said: “Racist abuse has no place in society, let alone in sports.
"While Rabjohn may have quickly realised that he had made an illegal gesture, it should not have entered his mind in the first place.
“Mr Palmer instantly highlighted his abuse, which was then escalated and reported to the police for investigation.
"I would encourage anyone who witnesses this type of offensive behaviour to report it immediately to help eradicate it from the game.”
Rabjohn will not be able to enter within a mile of Hillsborough Stadium or Sheffield Town Hall on matchdays or be able to travel to away games from four hours before and six hours after a game.
He will also need to surrender his passport during international games – including tournaments such as Euro 2024.