A 49-year-old man has been charged with racially abusing West Bromwich Albion midfielder Romaine Sawyers.
Simon Silwood is alleged to have sent an offensive message to the Premier League footballer through 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.
