A 49-year-old man has been charged by West Midlands Police with racially abusing a Premier League footballer, Romaine Sawyers online.

Simon Silwood is alleged to have sent an offensive message to West Bromwich Albion midfielder 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.

Silwood, from Kingswinford, near Dudley has been charged under the Communications Act. He will appear at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on April 29, the force said.

Saint Kitts and Nevis international Sawyers, 29, played for West Brom between 2009 and 2013 and then rejoined the club from Brentford in 2019.

Sawyers made his name at Brentford. He helped them win promotion from the Championship in 2019-20 – playing 42 league games – and has played 18 times in the Premier League this season.

The online media attack on Sawyers came in the wake Manchester United players Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial also suffering racist abuse via social media.

Both came under attack after the shock Premier League result of the season so far (Jan 27) when title-chasing United were beaten 2-1 by the division’s bottom team, Sheffield United at Old Trafford.

Speaking after the incident in January, West Brom boss Sam Allardyce said: “It leaves a big question about whether reporting it is enough. Romaine – or any Black person across the country – should not have to be open to any type of abuse on social media.

“He is extremely upset, as anybody would be. Social media sites need to act in a more responsible way. We have to do our best to cut this out.”

A West Brom statement at the time added: ‘Everyone at the club is appalled by the abhorrent message which was sent during Tuesday’s Premier League fixture against Manchester City.

‘The club has a proud history of confronting all forms of discrimination and will assist the authorities with their inquiries, seeking the toughest available legal punishment, as well as a lifetime ban from The Hawthorns for the individual responsible.’