Football fan, 54, admits racially abusing ex-England star Rio Ferdinand by using ‘racist and derogatory emojis’ to describe his commentary after the Euro 2020 final

• Robert Whippe, 54, pleaded guilty to sending racist messages to Rio Ferdinand
• Whippe initially admitted posting the tweets but initially denied any racist intent
• Ferdinand said he had to explain to his children why he received racist abuse 

A football fan has admitted racially abusing former England defender Rio Ferdinand following the Euro 2020 final.

Robert Whippe, 54, pleaded guilty at St Albans Magistrates’ Court to two counts of sending a grossly offensive message to the ex-Manchester United star over his commentary during last summers final, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

After England lost to Italy in a penalty shoot-out, Whippe used ‘racist and derogatory emojis’ to describe Mr Ferdinand’s commentary of the match.

A football fan has admitted racially abusing former England defender Rio Ferdinand following the Euro 2020 final

When interviewed by Hertfordshire Police, Whippe admitted posting the tweets but initially denied any racist intent.

Following the hearing on Friday, CPS senior crown prosecutor for CPS Thames and Chiltern Matthew Gauntlett said: ‘Whippe committed a racist attack on Rio Ferdinand as he was giving his expert opinion and commentary on the Euro 2020 final.

‘It was completely unwarranted and part of a disease in football that the CPS is playing its part to eradicate.

‘I would like to thank Rio Ferdinand for his cooperation and support for this prosecution in what must have been a distressing time for him.’

Deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS West Midlands Douglas Mackay added: ‘Hate crime has no place within society let alone sport. 

In September, the player turned pundit told MPs he has had to explain to his children why he has received banana and monkey emojis on social media

Recently we have seen an increase of reports in racist abuse online and in stadiums in football matches and we are determined to play our part in cutting this out.’

Whippe will be sentenced at the same court on March 1.

The CPS said it is currently working with football clubs, player organisations and the police to explain how such crimes are prosecuted and what information is needed to pass the charging threshold.

Ferdinand has previously spoken out about being the subject of vile online racist abuse, saying he was baffled by the lack of action taken by Facebook and Twitter.

In September, the ex-player, turned pundit, told MPs he has had to explain to his children why he has received banana and monkey emojis on his social media accounts, with abusers acting with impunity. 

Ferdinand was giving evidence to a Parliamentary committee examining the Draft Online Harms Bill, which is designed to force big tech firms to take responsibility.  

‘It baffles me, it is disheartening,’ Ferdinand said. ‘The data is telling us [racism] is here and it is back.

‘We saw in the Euros when three black players missed penalties… the first thing I thought was let’s see what happens on social media. I expected what happened to happen. That is the disappointing thing. 

‘There is AI there for so many aspects on social media platforms…’ continued Ferdinand. 

‘Copyright works… [but], we can’t find it here for certain words or certain emojis or terminologies that are used on social media platforms. That is baffling. The technology is there.’ 

Abuse was directed towards Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho on social media after they missed penalties in the final. 

‘Perpetrators are allowed stand behind a curtain,’ said Ferdinand. ‘They are anonymous. That is an absolute problem. If you threw a banana on a pitch there would be repercussions but online you can post a banana to a black player with racist connotations and you will be fine. How is that right? It can’t be.

‘I have to sit there and have breakfast with my kids and explain to them what the monkey emoji means in that context what the banana means. [They ask] ‘why is there a banana on your post?

‘Me having to do that in this day and age when there is AI and resources available… you would like to think these people would put those things in place.’

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