Met Police charge man over racist tweets identified by Chelsea

Metropolitan Police have charged a man in relation to ‘racist, anti-semitic and hateful tweets’ sent in late 2020 after Chelsea helped identify the culprit.

The charges cover just under a whole year from 5 February 2020 and 3 February 2021 and proves that the internet will not provide a hiding place for vile racist behaviour.

A Met Police statement confirmed: “Nathan Blagg 21 (07.01.00) of Retford, Nottinghamshire, has been charged with seven counts of sending by public communication network an offensive/indecent/obscene/menacing message/matter, contrary to the Malicious Communications Act.

“The charges cover a period from 5 February 2020 to 3 February 2021.He has been charged by postal requisition. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, 8 October.”

The Central Football Unit led the investigation, with Blagg initially arrested in February 2021.

Last year, a judge in Ireland decided against imposing a criminal conviction on a teenager who had sent 20 abusive messages to former England striker Ian Wright via Instagram. Wright, who had accepted an apology as part of the proceedings, later expressed disappointment over the lack of a conviction, explaining he had not expected the apology to invite a lesser punishment.

Chelsea have been committed to eradicating racist and discriminatory behaviour and earlier this week vowed to take the ‘strong possible action’ against an individual seen to have hurled sectarian abuse at Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn during a Premier League match at Stamford Bridge.

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