Racist Football Fan Banned After Targeting Premier League Star
A Liverpool supporter has been handed a three-year football banning order and community service after subjecting Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz to horrific racist abuse online. Harry Brown, 25, from Barrow in Cumbria, targeted the Brazilian forward twice following goals scored against his team.
Vile Social Media Messages
Magistrates in north Cumbria heard that Brown sent direct messages to Muniz via social media in December 2024 containing deeply offensive language. The communications included racial slurs and threats towards the player's family, with messages stating "f****** slave" and "hope your family gets hurt".
The abuse occurred after Muniz scored in Fulham's 2-2 Premier League draw with Liverpool on Merseyside. Brown then sent further malicious messages in April following the return fixture between the two clubs, including one stating 'hope your family dies' accompanied by a monkey emoji and another containing the word 'slave'.
Police Condemnation and Praise for Player
Speaking after the case, Chief Inspector Kim Brown of Cumbria Police delivered a strong condemnation of the abuse. "We stand against racism and condemn the vile abuse which Harry Brown sent to Mr Muniz," she stated.
"Hate crime, in person or online, is never acceptable and you cannot hide behind a social media profile to post these despicable comments." The Chief Inspector praised Muniz for having "the strength to stand up and speak out" against the abuse.
She added: "With the support of Mr Muniz, we have pursued this case to hold Brown accountable for his actions. There is simply no place for this in society. We will continue to bring offenders to justice."
Collaborative Investigation
The police investigation involved multiple organisations working together to identify and apprehend the offender. Chief Inspector Brown acknowledged the contributions of the Premier League, the UK Football Policing Unit, and dedicated football officers who collaborated to gather evidence, trace the social media account, and make the arrest.
"I want to reassure any person out there who is subject to this level of racist abuse. We will listen and we will seek to take action," she emphasised, sending a clear message about the police's commitment to tackling online hate crime.
Sentencing and Football Ban
Brown pleaded guilty to two counts of malicious communications at a hearing last month and was sentenced yesterday. In addition to the three-year football banning order, he was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work within the next twelve months.
The case highlights the growing problem of discrimination within football. Anti-racism charity Kick It Out received 1,398 reports of discrimination during the 2024/25 season alone - the highest figure ever recorded by the organisation and more than double the number reported just four seasons earlier.
This significant increase underscores the urgent need for continued action against racism in football, both on and off the pitch, with players like Rodrigo Muniz demonstrating courage in confronting abuse while authorities work to hold perpetrators accountable.
