Rio Ferdinand allegedly racially abused by Wolves fan during game against Man United with police confirming man has been arrested for sickening ‘monkey chant’… as ex-United defender offers to meet supporter to ‘educate him’
- A Wolves supporter has been arrested after allegedly abusing Rio Ferdinand
- Ferdinand was at Molineux for BT Sport for Wolves’ tie with Manchester United
- West Midlands Police confirmed a 31-year-old man is in custody for a gesture
- Taking to Twitter, Ferdinand has revealed the extent of the sickening abuse
- Former United defender Ferdinand offered to meet the fan to ‘educate him’
Rio Ferdinand has revealed he was racially abused by a Wolves supporter whilst at Molineux to watch their Premier League fixture against Manchester United.
West Midlands Police have confirmed a 31-year-old man has been arrested for a ‘racist gesture’ aimed at former United defender Ferdinand, who was at the ground on punditry duty for BT Sport.
Ferdinand admitted after the news of the arrest that he would like to ‘meet up’ with the person and help ‘educate’ him over the issue.
Rio Ferdinand revealed he was racially abused during Wolves’ game with Manchester United
“I’d love to meet up with the fella and just educate him a little bit.
“Punishing people without education isn’t the way forward.”@rioferdy5 offers his thoughts and feelings on a shameful racist incident at Molineux.
The person in question is in police custody.#DrawTheLine pic.twitter.com/acVqs8ngHB
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 23, 2021
After the full-time whistle, Ferdinand, 42, took to Twitter to reveal the sickening extent of the abuse he was subjected to.
‘The last couple weeks, it’s been unreal to see fans back,’ Ferdinand wrote.
‘However, to the Wolves fan who has just been thrown out for doing a monkey chant at me, you need to be dismissed from football and educated.
Ferdinand laid bare the shocking extent of the abuse directed at him at Molineux on Sunday
Former United defender Ferdinand was a pundit for BT Sport and watched Wolves play United
‘Come meet me and I will help you understand what it feels like to be racially abused!’
The statement from West Midlands Police said: ‘A 31-year-old man has been arrested at the Wolves vs Manchester United match this afternoon after a racist gesture was directed at Rio Ferdinand.
‘We will not tolerate football hate crime.’
A limited number of the Wolves fanbase was allowed back into the stadium for the first time in over a year after coronavirus restrictions were lifted across the UK.
West Midlands Police confirmed after the game that a 31-year-old man has now been arrested
With boss Nuno Espirito Santo leaving and the season coming to an emotional close, the occasion was soured by the gesture targeting Ferdinand.
After host Jake Humphrey said that his colleague was abused, Ferdinand went into more detail and insisted that education is the way forward.
‘Fortunately I’ve just had a tweet come through from West Midlands Police saying that the fan has been arrested and he’s currently in custody,’ Ferdinand said.
‘It says they take racism very seriously which is pleasing to see and refreshing.
Wolves supporters returned for the first time in over a year for the final fixture of the campaign
‘But listen, I’d love to meet up with the fella and just educate him a little bit.
‘I think that’s part of the problem, punishing people without education isn’t the way forward and it’s disappointing.
‘People have waited all these months, over a year to get back in the stadium and then you come in with ignorance like that.
Ferdinand has said he would like to meet the man arrested for the abuse to help ‘educate’ him
‘Uncalled for, not needed, not warranted at all. Disappointing really. But listen, that’s just a very small minority in the stand that was doing it.
‘We were having banter with the fans and stuff.
‘The fans here, the emotion and atmosphere they created today was fantastic and that’s one person that tries to destroy it for everybody else.’
Wolves issued a direct apology to Ferdinand and insisted the fan doesn’t ‘represent’ the club
Responding directly to Ferdinand’s tweet, Wolves offered an apology through a statement.
The club said: ‘We are deeply sorry Rio. This person does not represent our club, our supporters or our values.
‘We can confirm that this individual has been arrested by West Midlands Police, who we will support to ensure that the strongest action is taken, including a lifetime ban from our club.’
