An Arsenal supporter has been handed a three-year football banning order after posting a racially abusive comment about Thomas Partey on social media. Charles Ogunmilade, aged 28, admitted to posting a "grossly offensive" message on X (formerly Twitter) following the midfielder's missed chance in a 3-3 draw against Southampton in April of the previous year. Ogunmilade, in his post, used a derogatory racial slur while criticizing Partey for skying a shot over the bar. The post, which read, "Nah, when Partey skied that shot I actually screamed you dirty black cunt," was reported to the police, leading to an investigation. Despite admitting to the offense, Ogunmilade claimed that the post was meant to be a form of satire, mimicking what he described as the comments of a "white racist," shared among his group of friends.
During the court proceedings, Ogunmilade defended his actions by explaining that the post was intended as a coping mechanism. He said that he and his friends, who had been affected by the racist abuse directed at black England players after the Euro 2020 final, used this form of humor to diminish the power of racist remarks. He expressed that the intention behind the post was not to promote hate but to make light of the situation, reflecting the impact of the racism they had experienced. Ogunmilade, who is of Nigerian descent, also voiced concerns about the potential negative impact of the banning order on his career and personal life, particularly in terms of his ability to travel abroad, including visiting his family in Nigeria and traveling to the US.
In mitigation, Ogunmilade acknowledged his mistake and highlighted his previous good character, as well as his early guilty plea. The court also considered his personal background and the context in which the post was made. Magistrate Shaoni Myer stated that while Ogunmilade's post may have been intended as satire, it was still grossly offensive and unacceptable. The court decided that a conditional discharge would not be appropriate, and thus, Ogunmilade was ordered to pay a fine of £125, a £50 surcharge, and £85 towards the prosecution's costs. The decision was a reminder that such behavior will not be tolerated, regardless of the intention behind the post. This case serves as a warning about the consequences of using social media to spread offensive and harmful language, even in a supposedly joking context.
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