Rio Ferdinand: Fan made racist gesture at pundit, court hears

The former England defender is expected to give evidence at the trial later

A football fan directed racist and offensive abuse at pundit Rio Ferdinand, including making a monkey gesture, a court has heard.

Jamie Arnold is accused of threatening or abusive behaviour at a match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on 23 May last year.

Former player Ferdinand said he was unaware of the abuse and gesture from the "fixated" fan during the match.

Mr Arnold denies wrongdoing at a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Footage was played to jurors showing Mr Arnold, 32, from Stone in Staffordshire, allegedly making the racist gesture.

Ferdinand, a former England and Manchester United defender, had been at the game working as a television pundit for BT Sport as well as a fan, the trial heard.

It was the first time fans had returned to the ground since the start of the pandemic and was supposed to have been a "a joyous day", said prosecutor Jason Aris.

Rio Ferdinand was capped 81 times for England and won six Premier League titles with Manchester United

Whilst up on a gantry area above the Billy Wright Stand, Wolves supporters enjoyed giving Ferdinand "a bit of stick" when their team was gaining the upper hand, said Mr Aris.

"Unfortunately, things became soured," when the pundit noticed the defendant direct all his attention at him, the prosecutor said.

"[Mr Arnold] was not there to behave, to watch the football match and enjoy the day," he added.

"This defendant, we say, was engaging in unpleasant hand gestures, and jumping up and down," and he was "clearly trying to imitate a monkey," in the direction of Ferdinand.

"Not only was it offensive, but also racist," Mr Aris said.

He added that Mr Arnold, who was under the influence of alcohol, had been "unpleasant early into the match" and had "started to hurl homophobic abuse at the referee, Mike Dean".

Giving evidence Ferdinand said he had noted the defendant and his "more aggressive body language".

The atmosphere at the ground was "jovial", he said, and he was recognised by nearby Wolves fans, who engaged "in a little bit of banter".

He agreed the banter was "normally" in good humour.

He became aware of a handful - about four or five - Wolves supporters who were "just a little bit more kind of serious about it", he said, adding one in particular was "more aggressive".

Asked if he "engaged" with that male, he said: "I gave him a little bit back, jovial like, I gave that person a knowing nod, when it was 2-1 (to Manchester United)."

But when asked under cross examination by defence barrister Andrew Baker if he had seen the defendant make a monkey gesture towards him, the ex footballer replied "No."

He added that he did not hear the defendant shouting anything abusive towards him.

Also giving evidence, Stuart Munden-Edge, who was part of the security team, told jurors he had spotted Mr Arnold shouting abuse at the former player.

Continuing to watch the fan he said: "There was an occasion where he was getting no reaction from Rio, and proceeded to pose as a monkey, hunchback, his hands under his armpits, pointing towards Mr Ferdinand."

'Ashamed and embarrassed'

Mr Arnold was also heard by fans to use a highly offensive racist insult about Ferdinand, the trial heard.

Sitting two rows behind him at the match, lifelong Wolves supporter Mark Zammit said he had been left "ashamed and embarrassed" at the fan's behaviour.

"He was shouting the abuse... at Rio and doing a monkey gesture, with his hands, under his arms.

"I was in total disbelief, I was shocked, I'm used to banter at football stadiums but in my time going, I've never seen anything like that," said Mr Zammit.

When arrested and cautioned by police, Mr Arnold allegedly told them he knew he had been stupid which prosecutors argued amounted to "a clear admission of guilt," said the prosecutor.

In his defence, Mr Arnold is expected to claim he was making monkey gestures towards his father who was standing next to him in the stand, not Ferdinand, the court heard.

Mr Arnold denies causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress to Ferdinand by using threatening, abusive or insulting words.

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