A 52-year-old man was sentenced to ten weeks in prison for racially insulting England players in the European Cup final in July. Jonathan Best, who works as a forklift driver, insulted Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka with racial slurs in a Facebook Live shortly after the decision expired. All three players lost penalties in the dispute that made Italy champions of the tournament.
Best was convicted at Willesden Court of First Instance, London. According to the Royal Prosecution Service (CPS), the UK’s public criminal agency, the man pleaded guilty to sending a message or subject matter that was extremely offensive, indecent, obscene or threatening through the public media.
“While most of the nation has been proud of the Three Lions having reached their first international final in over 50 years, Jonathan Best took to Facebook to broadcast a barrage of racist abuse against the three players who missed penalties during the match,” said Jonathan Best. CPS.
Authorities learned of the video of racial insults after a friend of Best reported the video to the police and Facebook. The decision was taken after the man refused to remove the post from social media. The Public Prosecution added: “There is absolutely no place in the game or anywhere else for racism.”
Best’s case was just one of several offenses Rashford, Sancho and Saka were subjected to after the match. The young strikers entered extra time and were scheduled to take penalty kicks after the match ended in a 1-1 draw, the three players lost their free kicks and England postponed their dream of winning the championship for the first time.
