A football fan has recently received a five-year ban from attending Sheffield Wednesday matches for racially abusing Kasey Palmer during a game at Hillsborough. The 21-year-old individual, Edward Rabjohn, was caught on broadcast cameras making racist gestures towards Coventry forward Mr Palmer on January 20, 2024. Rabjohn admitted in a police interview that he had made the gesture after consuming six pints of beer before the game and saw himself in the footage after the match.
In the second half of the game, Mr Palmer was collecting the ball for a throw-in when he was subjected to the racist abuse by Rabjohn. The match referee, Anthony Blackhouse, reported the incident to Coventry manager Mark Robins after Mr Palmer informed him about the situation. In his victim personal statement to the court, Mr Palmer expressed his shock, disgust, and feeling of sickness at the racist gestures directed towards him. He emphasized that such behaviour has no place in sports or in society as a whole.
Rabjohn pleaded guilty to racially abusing Mr Palmer during a hearing at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court. In addition to the five-year football banning order, he was given a two-year community order and 200 hours of unpaid work. The racially aggravating features of the incident were taken into account when determining his sentence. As part of the ban, Rabjohn is prohibited from entering within a mile of Hillsborough Stadium or Sheffield Town Hall on matchdays, traveling to away games from four hours before and six hours after a game, and is required to surrender his passport during international games.
Julian Tanikal, District Crown Prosecutor, highlighted the immediate reporting of the incident by Mr Palmer, signaling that racist abuse has no place in sports or society. He encouraged individuals who witness such offensive behaviour to report it immediately to help eradicate it from the game. Douglas Mackay, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor, also emphasized the commitment to work with football authorities and law enforcement agencies to eliminate such cruel behaviour from the sport.
The incident serves as a poignant reminder that racist abuse has no place in sports or any other facet of society. It is crucial for everyone, including football authorities, clubs, and law enforcement, to continue working together to eliminate such behaviour and ensure that fans can enjoy the game without fear of discrimination.