Man who racially abused Coventry footballer Kasey Palmer at Sheffield Wednesday banned from football

Edward Rabjohn, who is 21 and from Sheffield, admitted making a racist gesture during a police interview

A man who made a racist gesture towards Coventry midfielder Kasey Palmer during a Sheffield Wednesday match has been banned from football matches for five years.

Edward Rabjohn, who is 21 and from Sheffield, admitted to police he had carried out the act and fled HIllsborough in January 2024.

Palmer informed match referee Anthony Blackhouse of the gesture, who reported it to Coventry manager Mark Robins.

Palmer told police he saw Rabjohn “extremely animated” and was looking directly at him as he waved at the footballer.

In a hearing at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Monday (May 20), Rabjohn pleaded guilty to racially abusing Palmer.

He was sentenced to a two-year community order and 200 hours of unpaid work. His sentence was increased to take into account the racially aggravating features of the incident.

Julian Tanikal, Crown District Attorney and Senior Sports Prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “Racist abuse has no place in society, let alone in sport.

“While Rabjohn quickly realized that he had made an illegal gesture, it should not have occurred to him in the first place.

“Mr Palmer instantly highlighted his abuse which was then escalated and reported to the police for investigation.

“I would encourage anyone who witnesses this type of offensive behavior to report it immediately to help eradicate it from the game.”

Rabjohn will not be able to enter within a mile of Hillsborough Stadium or Sheffield City Hall on match days, nor will he be able to travel to away games four hours before and six hours after a game.

He will also have to surrender his passport during international games – including tournaments such as Euro 2024.

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