Offensive messages have become a daily occurrence on social media, which raises the question of whether social media rules and consequences could be stricter for such people.
The latest scandal in which a man sent offensive messages, which allude to mocking the death of a guest fan at a Sheffield Wednesday game, has caused a barrage of reactions.
Namely, West Brom fan Mark Townsend died at the Hillsborough stadium in September of last year. One Twitter user then sent a message that appeared to mock his death. Immediately after that, his colleagues and relatives saw the post and decided to report a person named Richard Crisp to the police.
Crisp is a golfer and captain of the Gillsborough Golf Club.
Richard Crisp is sentenced
The manager of the Hillsborough Golf Club was also shocked by such a post, contacting the police afterwards. Richard Crisp was sentenced to 12 months of community service and ordered to pay £200 in court costs. The majority believes that the sentence should have been significantly higher, but the court gave its own assessment.
It is interesting to note that after the call of the club manager, this cub received a phone call, with a threat that they would be burned to the ground.
Crisp was also kicked out of the golf club and banned for life from Sheffield Wednesday matches.
In the letter, Crisp admitted that he regrets such actions, apologizing to the family of the deceased. “I made distressing, disrespectful and derogatory comments. I wish to apologize unreservedly for all the offense I caused.”
His lawyer said that Crisp consumed alcohol, seeing it as a way to cope with the stress after his mother was diagnosed with dementia. However, some are not sure of the truth of such statements, feeling that Crisp should have received a greater sentence. This would send a clear message to others that such behavior will have consequences.
Facebook, X, Instagram and other social media should change their policy and find the right solutions for such cases.
Tennis World USA