The F A Cup 2011-12

[FryattFox]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17515992

A student who admitted posting racially offensive comments on Twitter about footballer Fabrice Muamba has been jailed for 56 days.

Swansea University student Liam Stacey, 21, from Pontypridd, admitted inciting racial hatred over remarks about the Bolton Wanderers player, who collapsed during a FA Cup tie at Tottenham.

A district judge in Swansea called the comments "vile and abhorrent".

Muamba, 23, who suffered a cardiac arrest, is still in intensive care.

Sentencing Stacey at Swansea Magistrates' Court, District Judge John Charles told him: "In my view, there is no alternative to an immediate prison sentence.

"It was not the football world who was praying for [Muamba].... everybody was praying for his life."

Stacey broke down in tears as he was led away to begin his jail term.

As he passed the public gallery, he was briefly embraced by friends and his parents.

A second year biology student at Swansea, Stacey was arrested after his comments on the social networking site were reported by other users.

A number of people challenged Stacey on Twitter following his first comment, and he responded with a number of offensive posts aimed at other Twitter users.


Fabrice Muamba, 23, remains critically ill after collapsing during a match on 17 March
Last week the court heard how Stacey posted the offensive comments shortly after the former England Under-21 star collapsed during the FA Cup quarter-final at White Hart Lane on 17 March.

Magistrates were told police forces across Britain received complaints following the comments.

'Disciplinary'

Stacey tried to "distance himself" from the tweets by claiming his account had been hacked, the court was told.

He later tried to delete his page but was arrested the following day at his student house in Swansea.

When interviewed by police, Stacey said he had been drinking since lunchtime on Saturday and was drunk when he made the comments.

Stacey was initially released on bail pending sentence and was ordered not to use Twitter and other social networking sites.

Jim Brisbane, chief crown prosecutor for CPS Cymru-Wales, said: "Racist language is inappropriate in any setting and through any media.

"We hope this case will serve as a warning to anyone who may think that comments made online are somehow beyond the law."

A Swansea University spokesperson said: "The student remains suspended from the university pending the conclusion of our disciplinary proceedings."

Stacey is also registered as a player with Treorchy rugby club, where he has turned out for the second team on occasions.


More people are likely to be prosecuted for making racist comments on Twitter, says media law expert Prof Duncan Bloy
A statement after his arrest said: "The club wishes to completely disassociate itself from these comments and will be carrying out a full investigation into this matter."

There has also been a reaction on Twitter to the sentence, with Lord Sugar - former Spurs chairman - saying "Be warned idiots!," while Gary Lineker posted "Let it be a warning to all you immature souls. #thinkbeforeyoutweet"

Muamba remains in intensive care in a London hospital where his condition is described as serious but stable.

Bolton and Tottenham play their re-arranged FA Cup fixture on Tuesday evening, with a minute's applause before kick-off.

The twitterer has now been jailed for 56 days. The streets are safer.

 

[Motown Fox]

Spurs beat Bolton 3-1 so an all London Semi at Wembley on the Sunday or if Chelsea get through in the Champions League they may ask it be switched to Friday night.
Saturday at Wembley will be an all Scouse affair as Everton get the better of MON's Sunderland. Anyone fancy going site seeing in the Big Smoke keep away from the Weekend of 13-15th April.

 

[Mawsley]

Anyone fancy going site seeing in the Big Smoke...

Like architectural students or apprentice builders?

 

[londonfox]

I fooking hate Chelsea for many, many reasons, most of which are as a result of growing up in West London. I cannot stand Harry fooking Redknapp and Kenny Dalglish, Luis Suarez and everyone associated with Liverpool this season have all behaved like fooking morons.

COME ON EVERTON

 

[Motown Fox]

Like architectural students or apprentice builders?

:icon_redf
I was tired when posting is my excuse, and my eyes were sore

 

[H T B]

Of the teams left in, I'd like to see Everton come out on top.
David Moyes has done a bloody good job at Goodison.

 

[bocadillo]

:icon_redf
I was tired when posting is my excuse, and my eyes were sore

saw

 

[OldGit]

saw

Sure?

 

[Billyjof]

I fooking hate Chelsea for many, many reasons, most of which are as a result of growing up in West London. I cannot stand Harry fooking Redknapp and Kenny Dalglish, Luis Suarez and everyone associated with Liverpool this season have all behaved like fooking morons.

COME ON EVERTON

Couldn't agree more.

 

[Macky]

Sure?

Eye wooden bee two shore a bout that

 

[Motown Fox]

Everton take the lead 1-0 in the Scouse's day out at Wembley

 

[Profondo Rosso]

:icon_lol: Liverpool.

:icon_lol: Liverpool.

:icon_lol: Liverpool.

:icon_lol: Liverpool.

:icon_lol: Liverpool.

 

[H T B]

nice miss by Carroll

 

[Siouxsie]

:icon_lol: Liverpool.

:icon_lol: Liverpool.

:icon_lol: Liverpool.

:icon_lol: Liverpool.

:icon_lol: Liverpool.

not so funny if you don't like Liverpool now

2-1

 

[Motown Fox]

You have to feel sorry for Spurs that 2nd Chelsea "goal" was never over the line and the Ref should hang his head in shame when he sees the replay.

Its 5-1 to Chelsea now so its all over for Spurs.

So we have the exact Final I hated to have.
Scouse Whingers vs the Chelski cheats.

 

[Ike O'Noclassed]

Scored one more than Spurs, therefore we claim the fourth Champions League spot.

 

[Orifice]

Questions that we will never hear answers to....

How can a ref give a goal when he & his linesman CANNOT have seen the ball cross the line?

How much is Abramovich funding The FA?

 

[FryattFox]

Questions that we will never hear answers to....

How can a ref give a goal when he & his linesman CANNOT have seen the ball cross the line?

How much is Abramovich funding The FA?

It was one of the worst decisions I've seen in a long time.

 

[Graz]

Questions that we will never hear answers to....

How can a ref give a goal when he & his linesman CANNOT have seen the ball cross the line?

How much is Abramovich funding The FA?

Exactly. An absolutely absurd decision. You see goals not given when the ball has crossed the line, which is bad enough, but this is much worse. The ref should be sure the ball has crossed the line for a goal to be given, so how can he possibly give it when the ball has clearly not crossed the line? An absolute joke.

Goal line technology can't come in soon enough.

 

[Ike O'Noclassed]

It was one of the worst decisions I've seen in a long time.

It was the worst decision I had seen in two hours, since Ashley Young executed yet another double twist with pike to "win" Manks first dodgy penalty for nearly a week.