An Arsenal fan has received a three-year football banning order after racially abusing Thomas Partey, despite claiming he was mimicking as satire what a white racist would say.
Charles Ogunmilade, 28, previously admitted posting a “grossly offensive” message on X, attacking the midfielder for missing a chance during the 3-3 draw with Southampton on 21 April last year.
Partey sent a shot over the crossbar, and the court heard Ogunmilade posted: “Nah, when Partey skied that shot I actually screamed you dirty black cunt.”
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.”
He said Ogunmilade told police the post was intended to be a sarcastic quote within a friendship group. “He said the group would mimic what a white racist would say,” he said.
Ogunmilade, who is of Nigerian descent, represented himself. In mitigation, he told the court he and his friends had been affected by the racism directed at black England players 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 travelling to the US – and visits to his family in Nigeria. “I am not a racist person,” he said.
Magistrate Shaoni Myer said the panel had taken into account Ogunmilade’s early guilty plea, his previous good character, his personal circumstances, his experience of racism and his intention for the post to be satire.
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.”
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