Sheffield Wednesday handed £12,500 fine and ordered to implement an ‘action plan for misconduct’ – after 21-year-old supporter is banned for five years for racially abusing Coventry’s Kasey Palmer at Hillsborough

Sheffield Wednesday have been fined £12,500 and ordered to ‘implement an action plan for misconduct’ after Coventry’s Kasey Palmer was racially abused at Hillsborough earlier this year.

Sheffield Wednesday fan Edward Rabjohn, 21, was handed a five-year football ban after he made racist gestures towards Palmer during the Sky Bet Championship meeting between the sides in January. He has also been handed a lifetime ban by Wednesday.

 

A statement from the Football Association read: ‘Sheffield Wednesday have been fined £12,500, warned and ordered to implement an action plan for misconduct in relation to crowd control at their EFL Championship game against Coventry City on Saturday 20 January 2024.

‘Sheffield Wednesday admitted that they failed to ensure their spectators and supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters) conduct themselves in an orderly fashion during the 94th minute, and don’t use words or otherwise behave in an improper, offensive, abusive and insulting way, with an express or implied reference to ethnic origin, colour and race.

 

‘An independent Regulatory Commission imposed the club’s sanctions following a hearing.’

Responding to the sanction, Wednesday said they will ‘continue the drive to weed out anyone who tarnishes the good name’ of the club.

‘Following a robust investigation, the culprit was identified and subsequently brought to justice,’ said the Owls in a statement on Wednesday.

‘In addition to the sentence imposed in a court of law, this person is now the subject of a lifetime ban from all Sheffield Wednesday fixtures and club events, with the opportunity to attend a rehabilitation programme in line with the EDI Code of Practice for all EFL Clubs after 10 years.

 

‘As a community-focused, family football club, we reiterate our condemnation of the abhorrent actions of this individual.

 

‘We have an ongoing responsibility to ensure that supporters, and anyone purporting to be supporters, conduct themselves in the right manner at all times whilst following the team, home and away.

‘Working side by side with all relevant authorities, we will continue the drive to weed out anyone who tarnishes the good name of Sheffield Wednesday.

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