Man who sent racist rant to Gareth Southgate after Molineux defeat avoids jail term

Brian Martin, 56, fired off an abusive email to Southgate at the end of England’s Nations League defeat to Hungary at Molineux in Wolverhampton, criticising him for selecting black players to take penalties in last year’s Euros final and also the team for taking the knee, York Magistrates’ Court heard.

The court heard that Martin started his message “Dear Gareth Wokegate”.

He went on: “Not only did you cause England to lose the European Championship final against Italy by playing for a draw from a winning position, and picking penalty takers who were black instead of being competent, you f****** clown, but you still appear blissfully unaware that 99 per cent of English citizens hate Team Snowflake taking the knee.”

Martin’s message added: “And please say a personal thank you from me to the gutless, p***-poor, millionaire comedy clowns pretending to be an England football team who just had their p***-useless, bone-idle, couldn’t-give-a-f*** arses handed to them by one of the worst teams in Europe.”

The message ended: “Gareth, you are an utter **** and the **** who dishonour the shirt are not England. F**** off.”

Melanie Ibbotson, prosecuting, said Martin, of Charles Street, Selby, was found guilty earlier this year of one count of sending by a public communication network an offensive or indecent message.

Ms Ibbotson said it was not thought that Southgate received the message, as it was picked up by his personal assistant and sent to FA security, who contacted the police.

Representing himself in court, Martin said he would appeal against his conviction, adding: “It is an honest opinion, it is a legal opinion.”

The unemployed maintenance contractor said: “My human rights have been breached, my civil rights have been breached and my legal rights have been breached.”

Martin told the court he had been subjected to “an egregious abuse of my rights from day one”.

District Judge Adrian Lower said the email was titled “Yet More Anti-White Racism From Team England”.

He added: “What did follow was a disgraceful, unacceptable, racist rant.”

“Racism has no place in our diverse society. The language you used is deeply hurtful to many people, especially people of colour.”

The district judge said: “It is my public duty to send a strong message that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.”

He added that he did not think it was appropriate to award compensation to Southgate or anyone else and said: “There’s no price I can put on racism.”

He told Martin: “You have little or no insight into how offensive you have been.

“You have shown no remorse for what you have done.”

He said the defendant has claimed he was “merely stating facts”.

Mr Lower said the offences fell “just short” of a custodial sentence.

Instead, the district judge imposed a two-year community order which included a £120 fine and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Martin was also ordered to pay £620 costs and a £95 surcharge.