A MAN IS in custody after Rio Ferdinand was racially abused during Manchester United’s 2-1 win at Wolves today.
The former England and Man United defender was working for BT Sport at the game, and West Midlands Police have confirmed that a 31-year-old man has been arrested in relation to the incident.
Before the game, a small number of supporters were also heard booing when players from both teams took the knee to highlight the ongoing issue of racism.
Ferdinand confirmed the monkey chant incident on Twitter, writing: “The last couple weeks, it’s been unreal to see fans back. 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 & educated. Come meet me & I will help you understand what it feels like to be racially abused.”
Ferdinand also spoke about the incident on BT Sport after the match.
“I’d love to meet up with the fella and just educate him,” Ferdinand said.
“I think that’s part of the problem, punishing people without education isn’t the way forward. It’s disappointing, people have waited all these months to get back into stadiums and then you come in with ignorance like that. Uncalled for, not needed, not warranted at all.
“The atmosphere the fans created today was fantastic and one person tries to destroy it for everybody else.