Wolves fan arrested over alleged racist gesture at Rio Ferdinand

The 31-year-old fan was arrested shortly after allegedly making a gesture towards the football commentator at Molineux.

The incident is said to have happened just before half time at Molineux.

Wolves later responded that the arrested person does not represent “our club, our supporters or our values”.

Taking to twitter, Ferdinand said: “The last couple weeks, it’s been unreal to see fans back. However to the Wolves fan who has just been thrown out for doing a monkey chant at me. You need to be dismissed from football and educated. Come meet me and I will help you understand what it feels like to be racially abused!”

A West Midlands Police spokesman later confirmed: “A 31-year-old man has been arrested at the Wolves v Man United match this afternoon after a racist gesture was directed at Rio Ferdinand.

“We will not tolerate football hate crime.”

A statement on Wolves’ Twitter account, in response to Rio added: “We are deeply sorry Rio. This person does not represent our club, our supporters or our values.”

“We can confirm that this individual has been arrested by West Midlands Police, who we will support to ensure that the strongest action is taken, including a lifetime ban from our club.”

It is the first time Wolves fans had been allowed back to Molineux after the coronavirus pandemic – and also marked head coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s final game.

Speaking to BT Sport afterwards, Ferdinand said: “Fortunately I have just had a tweet from West Midlands Police saying that the fan has been arrested and is currently in custody, as they take racism very seriously – which is pleasing to see and refreshing.

“But listen I’d love to meet up with the fella and educate him a little. I think that is part of the problem – punishing people without education isn’t the way forward.

“It’s disappointing. People have waited all these months, over a year, to get back in this stadium and then you come in with ignorance like that. Uncalled for, not needed, not warranted at all.

“It’s disappointing really. But listen, that’s just a very small minority in that stand doing that, we were having banter with the fans and stuff – the emotional atmosphere they created today was fantastic and that’s one person who tries to destroy it for everyone else.”

It is the first time Wolves fans had been allowed back to the Molineux after the coronavirus pandemic – and also marked head coach Nuno Espirito Santo's final game.

Speaking to BT Sport afterwards, Ferdinand said: "Fortunately I have just had a tweet from West Midlands Police saying that the fan has been arrested and is currently in custody, as they take racism very seriously – which is pleasing to see and refreshing.

"But listen I'd love to meet up with the fella and educate him a little. I think that is part of the problem – punishing people without education isn't the way forward.

"It's disappointing. People have waited all these months, over a year, to get back in this stadium and then you come in with ignorance like that. Uncalled for, not needed, not warranted at all.

"It's disappointing really. But listen, that's just a very small minority in that stand doing that, we were having banter with the fans and stuff – the emotional atmosphere they created today was fantastic and that's one person who tries to destroy it for everyone else."