Port Vale confirm that striker Tom Pope will contest FA charge for Twitter use
Port Vale FC have issued a statement confirming that striker Tom Pope denies an FA charge of “a reference, whether expressed or implied, to race and/or religion and/or ethnic origin” and will defend himself against the charge.
A club statement said:
Tom Pope has been charged by the FA for writing an allegedly anti-Semitic social media post.
The Port Vale forward strongly denies allegations that his Twitter comments made “a reference, whether expressed or implied, to race and/or religion and/or ethnic origin” and will vigorously defend the charge.
On Wednesday, Pope was charged for a third time by the FA for his activity on the social media platform Twitter. The forward has already served two bans this season after been found guilty by the FA of offensive posts on the platform.
An FA spokesperson said:
Tom Pope has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to a social media post on 5 January 2020. It is alleged that his social media activity breaches FA Rule E3(1) as it was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute.
It is also alleged that his social media activity constitutes an ‘aggravated breach’, which is defined in FA Rule E3(2), as it included a reference, whether expressed or implied, to race and/or religion and/or ethnic origin.
The 34-year-old replied and finished a since-deleted tweet by saying: “the Rothchilds are crowned champions of every bank on the planet – the end”.
If the charge is proven Pope can expect to receive a third suspension of the season.
Twitter trouble
22 November: Pope is banned for one match and fined £2,600 for Twitter remarks
22 January: Pope receives a further one match ban and fined £1,500 for Twitter remarks
5 February: The FA announce Pope faces charges over an alleged anti-Semitic tweet