Two minors were arrested on Saturday during a game in English football’s second tier on suspicion of making “misogynistic chants” at Rebecca Welch, who made history as the first female fourth-tier referee in the Premier League.
The Championship match, in which Birmingham beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1, was marred by the arrest of two 17-year-olds for allegedly chanting sexist chants at Welch.
We arrested two young men for making misogynistic shouts at the referee during a Birmingham City home match in [estádio de] St Andrews,” West Midlands Police confirmed.
“Our officers heard shouts directed at the referee and quickly acted to arrest the two, both 17 years old,” police added in a statement.
The detainees are “in pre-trial detention on suspicion of committing a crime against public order” while necessary investigations are carried out, the statement said.
“We do not tolerate any form of hate and it is important that we are informed about hate crimes,” police added.
Birmingham City had already warned fans on Friday before the match about their behavior towards referees.
The club recalled in a statement that Rebecca Welch faced “sexist and misogynistic” chants during a previous match and warned fans that penalties for discriminatory remarks or incitement to hatred could be up to five years in prison.
Birmingham Council said it was deeply disappointed by the events, “strongly condemned all forms of discrimination” and said it would “support the police in their investigations”.
On November 4, Rebecca Welch became the first fourth official in English football’s top tier, the Premier League, in a match between Fulham, owned by the Portuguese Marco Silva and Joao Palinha, and Manchester United, led by Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot.
In 2021, Welch also became the first woman to join England’s national panel of football referees, responsible for officiating men’s games in the second and third divisions at professional level.
Speaking to the English Football League, Welch added that her appointment showed young women there was real opportunity to progress in refereeing.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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