November 27 – Charles Ogunmilade, 28, has received a three-year football banning order after racially abusing Thomas Partey. Ogunmilade, an Arsenal fan, said he was mimicking as satire what a white racist would say.
Ogunmilade, admitted posting a “grossly offensive” message on X, after Partey missed a chance during last season’s 3-3 draw with Southampton that seriously damaged the club’s push for Premier League glory.
The court heard that Ogunmilade, posted: “Nah, when Partey skied that shot I actually screamed you dirty black c**t.”
Suleman Hussain, prosecuting, said the post was reported to police. He said when officers attended Ogunmilade’s address: “The defendant appeared stunned and [the officers] could see he was afraid because his eyes had widened and his eyebrows became arched and became dumbfounded.”
Ogunmilade, who is of Nigerian descent, represented himself telling the court that he and his friends had been affected by the racism directed at Bukayo Saka, Jordan Sancho and Marcus Rashford after the team lost the Euro 2020 final.
“Our coping mechanism was to make fun of it, to limit the power these people have over you,” he said.
He said he was concerned how a banning order, which would require him to surrender his passport to police every time England play an away game, could affect his career – including traveling to the US – and visits to his family in Nigeria. “I am not a racist person,” he said.
Ogunmilade was ordered to pay a fine of £125, a surcharge of £50, and an £85 contribution to the prosecution’s costs. “We really have no choice,” she said. “Giving you a conditional discharge would not be appropriate.”
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1733919062labto1733919062ofdlr1733919062owedi1733919062sni@o1733919062fni1733919062