A 49-year-old man has been charged with racially abusing West Brom midfielder Romaine Sawyers.
West Midlands Police said Simon Silwood is alleged to have sent an offensive message to 29-year-old Sawyers via social media in January.
The charge comes after an investigation carried out by Pc Stuart Ward, the first dedicated hate crime officer within a football policing unit.
The suspect, from Kingswinford, near Dudley, has been charged under the Communications Act.
He will appear at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on April 29, the force said.
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