Rio Ferdinand: Wolves fan Jamie Arnold found guilty of racially abusing former Manchester United defender

Warning: Some readers may be offended by some of the content in this piece. We have removed repeated references to racist gestures and language, to try to minimise offence, while remaining true to the court proceedings

Wednesday 1 November 2023 18:38, UK

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Wolverhampton Wanderers fan Jamie Arnold has been found unanimously guilty of racially abusing former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand by a jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Arnold, 32, from Norton Bridge in Staffordshire, had been charged with causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.

Ferdinand was working as a pundit for BT Sport covering Manchester United's game with Wolves at Molineux on 21 May 2021, the first game with fans back in the stadium after coronavirus restrictions had been lifted.

Ferdinand celebrated when United scored and Arnold responded by directing an overtly racist gesture at the pundit, followed by the use of a racist word that he shouted at the former United and England defender.

Ferdinand did not hear or see the abuse himself, but told the court he was left feeling «sick» and «distressed» when he was told what had happened.

Five separate witnesses gave evidence to say they had seen Mr Arnold making the gesture, while CCTV footage also showed him making the gesture again some minutes later in what the prosecution said was him telling his father what he had just done.

Body cam footage from the arresting police officer heard Arnold admit to what he had done, saying «I knew as soon as I had done it, I'd been a stupid ****.»

Sentencing has been adjourned until next month, pending some pre-sentence reports from the probation service and Arnold has been bailed to