Sheffield Wednesday forward Fernando Forestieri charged with racial abuse

| 06 June 2019

Fernando Forestieri charged with racially abusing player

The Italian was cleared of the alleged offence in court but the FA has taken action.

Sheffield Wednesday forward Fernando Forestieri has been charged by the Football Association for using racist language in a pre-season friendly against Mansfield last summer.

The 29-year-old was acquitted in March at Mansfield Magistrates Court of racially abusing Stags defender Krystian Pearce.

However, the FA has now charged the Italian with "allegedly using abusive and/or insulting words including reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race".

Fernando Forestieri court case — Forestieri has been charged by the FA (Richard Sellers/PA)

An FA statement read: "Sheffield Wednesday FC player Fernando Forestieri has today been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3.

"It is alleged that words he used during a friendly fixture against Mansfield Town FC on 24 July 2018 breached Rule E3[1] as they were abusive and/or insulting.

"It is further alleged that the words constituted an "aggravated breach", which is defined in Rule E3[2], as they included reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race.

"Forestieri has until 14 June 2019 to respond to the charge."

2019 PFA Awards – Grosvenor House Hotel — Mansfield's Krystian Pearce poses with his award after earning a place in the PFA's League Two Team of the Year (John Walton/PA)

The accusation that Forestieri had racially abused Pearce sparked an on-field brawl during the pre-season friendly at the One Call Stadium last summer.

The Owls forward has already served a three-match suspension for misconduct relating to that incident. He was also fined £25,000.

Mansfield midfielder Jacob Mellis also received a three-game ban, while both clubs were fined following the incident.

Pearce went on to be named in the PFA's League Two team of the year.

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