A man has been charged with allegedly racially abusing former Manchester United and England footballer Rio Ferdinand, police have said.

Jamie Arnold, 31, is accused of using racist words and gestures towards the TV pundit during a match between Wolves and United on 23 May.

Arnold, from Stone, Staffordshire, was arrested during the match.

The game was the first time fans had been allowed to return to Molineux – Wolves’s home ground – in over a year due to coronavirus restrictions.

Arnold has also been charged with making homophobic comments and will appear before Dudley Magistrates Court on 29 July, West Midlands Police (WMP) said.

Ferdinand tweeted about the incident during the second half of the game, which United won 2-1, while Wolves said it was “deeply sorry” about what had happened.

The investigation has been led by PC Stuart Ward who was appointed the UK’s first dedicated hate crime officer within a football unit, the force said.

PC Ward is at the forefront of the efforts to stamp out any abuse against footballers and fans, WMP added.

Related posts:

Olympic star creates cycling glasses that allow riders to see behind them UK reports 58 COVID deaths and 4,715 cases in last 24 hours Dina Asher-Smith fails to make Olympic 100m final but teammate Daryll Neita through Storm Arwen: Thousands left ‘exhausted’ as they endure fifth day without power England Women humiliate Latvia 20-0 on record-breaking night for Lionesses and Ellen White ‘Very rare’ sea turtle washes up on Welsh beach after Storm Arwen – 5,000 miles away from home Gay rights activist’s appeal in long-running cake dispute ruled ‘inadmissible’ MP Margaret Ferrier to stand trial accused of visiting salon, leisure centre and church while having COVID symptoms COVID epicentre moves from London to North West and more older people being hospitalised MP calls for the return of a ‘hybrid parliament’ and claims 50 members could be at home with COVID Wales COVID restrictions to remain due to soaring Omicron cases Military medics drafted into London hospitals as NHS grapples with staff shortages