Jamie Arnold, the man who racially abused Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment by a UK court after he was convicted of racially aggravated public disorder.
The incident happened in May 2021 when Arnold made racial gestures during Manchester United’s game against Wolves at the Molineux stadium.
The match was the first Premier League game to welcome fans following the COVID-19 lockdown.
It consequently resulted in Arnold being charged and was found guilty of the crime last month after CCTV captured him making the gestures which was corroborated by multiple witnesses who testified at the trial.
In a victim statement, Ferdinand said his abuse “was unprovoked and completely unacceptable” and believed that Arnold should pay for his actions.
“It is now 2021, and behaviour like this is completely unacceptable,” he added.
Judge Rhona Campbell, who sentenced Arnold, said, “Wolverhampton Wanderers do not want a racist on their terraces. “They do not want you as a fan, and this city does not tolerate racist behaviour in its midst,” she added.