Student to be jailed for racially abusing Bukayo Saka

A law student, Suhel Ali is said to be facing a jail sentence after sending racist abuse to Bukayo Saka.

The 20-year-old man posted an audio message on social media last year in which he referred to the Arsenal and England footballer using derogatory terms, including “monkey” and the n-word.

Following Arsenal’s defeat to Nottingham Forest in May 2023, which resulted in them losing the Premier League title, Ali also insulted Saka by calling him a “f*** black piece of s.”

Ali has acknowledged sending the offensive message and has been released on bail until October 8, with the judge indicating that all sentencing options remain open.

Ali’s attorney stated that the message was sent impulsively and highlighted that his client shares Nigerian heritage with Saka.

He asserted that while Ali employed the n-word in a derogatory manner, there was no intention to racially insult Saka.

When questioned about the term “monkey,” which has frequently been associated with racist connotations towards black individuals, the lawyer clarified that Ali intended it to signify “foolish.”

He said of his client: “He was just firing off some really stupid, offensive remarks about how a footballer played.”

Police found north-west London resident Ali via his IP address and with the help of his own mother, the Sun reported.

During a police interview, Ali reportedly provided a similar explanation to officers, emphasizing that his message stemmed from frustration rather than any racial hostility.

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